Ghana’s leadership has come under harsh criticism from renowned economist Prof. Godfred Bokpin of the University of Ghana Business School.
Speaking on the “ABC In the Morning” show on September 13, 2024, Prof. Bokpin pointed to a lack of effective governance and leadership as the root cause of the country’s ongoing economic struggles, particularly in the cocoa sector.
“We don’t have a leadership. I’m not too sure Ghana has a government,” he lamented, noting the focus has shifted primarily to election wins rather than addressing the critical issues facing the economy.
Prof. Bokpin highlighted the concerning downward trend in cocoa production, citing the peak of the 2020/2021 season when Ghana produced over a million tonnes, compared to recent figures that have plummeted to just over 500,000 tonnes.
He explained, “The dropped revenue is not totally strange,” but stressed that this drastic decline in production is alarming and a reflection of the country’s deeper economic mismanagement.
According to the economist, the poor leadership has had far-reaching effects, particularly on Ghana’s sustainability.
“We are living less and less sustainably,” Prof. Bokpin said, attributing the economic hardships to what he described as greed, short-sightedness, and the prioritization of personal and political interests over national well-being.
In a damning conclusion, he noted that this failure in governance is clouding Ghana’s economic future.
“It is sad. This is what leadership can offer, and it is that bad,” he stated, warning that the current trajectory could lead to even greater challenges for the country if not urgently addressed.
