President John Dramani Mahama has stated that Africa?s projected 5.5% GDP growth rate will not be sustainable unless the continent properly addresses the issue of wealth inequality in various societies and find solutions that work for the people.
?What we are now realizing is that we cannot follow the same development paradigm of nations in the so-called developed world. We cannot use the same indexes to either influence or measure the growth of our societies. We cannot emulate these cultures of capitalism and consumption without somehow finding a way to infuse our individual, indigenous value systems,? President Mahama said in an to the Pan-African conference on inequalities in the context of structural transformation in Accra on Monday 28th April, 2014.
The Daily Express has gathered that the purpose of the conference was to adopt a strategy that will put Africa on the world map in terms of development.
?In moving forward, we in Africa have to ask ourselves, ?what kind of societies do we want to create?? President Mahama noted.
He said there was a time on the African continent, and it was not so long ago, that the worth of an individual was measured by his or her contribution to the village or the clan or the country.
?These days, the worth of an individual is measured by his or her finances, and physical possessions, like lavish homes, luxury vehicles, jewellery and designer clothing,? he stated, adding that ?this is not an observation borne of nostalgia for the olden days. The fact is that already in the Western world, this type of consumption has proven itself to be a fatal disease of the individual spirit, a disease that can and will erode the very fabric of society by shattering the core values of community.? And by following suit in this disposable culture of consumption, we in Africa run the risk of disposing the very culture, values and principles that have sustained us and enabled us to persevere.?
He said decentralization and the empowerment of local governments is a useful tool in the prevention of inequality. In Ghana, the District Assembly concept which has ensured political participation at the grassroots level and the constitutional provision for a District Assemblies? Common Fund which ensures a direct appropriation of between 5% and 8% of gross national revenues to 216 MMDAs, has spared Ghana some of the worst forms of inequality.
?A progressive constititution that strongly upholds the rights of the citizen and enjoins government to be mindful of reasonable geographic consideration in the policy of national development has a ensured a reasonable spread of basic amenities in the country?, he added.
He noted that, Ghana has one of the highest coverage of electricity in Africa, with about 75% coverage. Water coverage stands at about 65% of the population. Access to telecom services exceeds 100%. Percentage Access to healthcare and education are also high due to a NHIS and a policy of universal basic education FCUBE. This is also suported by a school feeding Program in which over 1 million children receive one meal a day.
