THE IMPORTATION OF LABORS MUST STOP

Columnist- Addotey Michael

Ghanaians always agitate about the unemployment situation in the country to the magnitude of founding an unemployed graduates association. The government obviously solves this challenge with their campaign messages, especially during election period. “Vote for me and I will create jobs for you”. They believe creating jobs is by awarding contract to foreigners in the country. Hence most of the construction contracts and other contracts are usually given to foreigners such the Asian and north American countries. The government give excuses of lack of technical know - how and equipment to domestically award those contracts.

Are these the excuses we can give to justify the unemployment situations in the country whiles the country have technical universities and colleges? Why do Ghanaians waste their time to enroll in these universities in the country if the government still complains of lack of technical know – how and equipment in country? Then what are these technical universities in the country teaching in their schools? I believe these are the questions we need to ask the mandated authorities for answers. The contract to construct the recent commissioned Kwame Nkrumah interchange (DUBAI) was awarded to a Brazilian contractor whiles there are indigenous constructing companies in the country. These foreign contractors create holes in the country’s economy by sending all monies earned from the contract to their countries in order to boost their countries economy. 

The testimony after the constructions of such project is always economic development. How can the economy develop when all monies in the country have been exported into other countries through contracts? Instead of awarding construction contracts to indigenous contractors, the government rather awards cooking, ELECTION campaign mobilizations, cleaning and minor works to indigenous which don’t have significant impact on the economy. The construction industry tends to contribute majority to the economic growth of a country, so why do government gives it out to foreigners. A construction contract awarded to an indigenous, Dr. Agbesi Woyome, ended up in the supreme court as a result of an alleged money scandal. Does it mean that indigenous contractors will always end up in court after receiving a construction contracts or otherwise. Well, time will tell.

If the government thinks there are no knowledgeable and well-equipped contractors in the country, then why are they still running the technical universities where students are seriously learning civil and other technical engineering programs? The government must rather bring the foreigners with their equipment to teach students in Ghana in order for Ghanaians to be able handle such contracts, which can save the country a lot of money in the long run as contracts can be awarded locally. The country needs leaders with long national vision for generations, not political party vision, as political party vision ends for only 4years. Let’s note that, the main agenda for political parties is to win elections not to develop the country, hence they focus on executing policies that will help them to win elections for 4yrs but not to sustain development for 10years or above. The importation of labors must stop, so we can use our own creations!