In Ghana, one script is very familiar; almost every government initiative starts with a mega launch.
Even projects as basic as anything are launched with pomp and pageantry. It is not uncommon in Ghana for high-ranking government officials, traditional leaders, community leaders, and dignitaries, among others, to gather to just launch initiatives of the government.
The costs of some of these launch events are sometimes mindblowing. It is believed by some quarters that, in some cases, the cost of the launch event is almost or the same as the project or the initiative being launched.
Thousands and millions of Ghana cedis are blown on these launch events. But that is not the saddest part.
In some cases, the project or initiative being launched does not see the light of day. In other cases, it brings no impact to the supposed beneficiaries. For instance, the “infamous” Pwalugu Dam is a contemporary example. After launch and sword-cutting events, the project is still a white elephant.
Other examples include the Wa Affordable Housing Project, the Agenda 111 Projects, the Botingili 1 Village 1 Dam projects, and a host of others.
The question many are asking is why spend huge sums of money to just launch an initiative in pomp and pageantry.
It is believed that millions of Ghana cedis can be saved if the government cuts back on these launch events. The argument is, what are those pomp and pageantry celebrating?
As part of the fiscal discipline, some analysts are proposing that there should be a directive banning all events and programs that launch initiatives and government projects.
Instead, the celebrations should rather focus on milestones, targets, results, and real impact. Launching projects with press releases does not in any way diminish such projects. Just imagine the savings the government will make if such big launch events are halted.
If the government has been able to scale down Ghana’s flagship Independence Day event to save costs, such directives can also be replicated across all government departments, ministries, and agencies.
For the ordinary Ghanaian, the swift implementation and completion of such initiatives will be more meaningful than the pomp and pageantry, which sometimes amounts to nothing.
As cost-cutting forms part of the country’s economic recovery, it is about time the government takes a decisive step to move away from events and functions that have no real impact.
