Job creation: Thinking aloud!

What can a million dollar do towards relevant and sustainable job creation. The issue of job creation is really important and whiles governments all over seriously deliberate how to create jobs for their citizenry same must be done for the Ghanaian or African.

Firstly, the government has a problem of wealth distribution, poverty alleviation and jobs for the numerous graduating students from the tertiary institutes, vocational institutes,etc. The trip towards poverty alleviation is not through freebies at all levels of the society. If government can radically introduce sharp solutions which i hope to propose a few in this article, it will be a leap towards poverty alleviation.

Start-ups, Start-ups and Start-ups: What can a million dollar achieve? Firstly , why can't government learn from the organizers of events like Ghana Most Beautiful, Miss Ghana, Miss Universe, Miss Malaika,  etc? In almost all these events, which aim towards unearthing the talents of the youth, the organizers travel across the length and breadth of the nation. From one region to another , they organize miniature events to select usually the best two or three people. Similarly, government can create regional competition among the youth (i am not careful enough for this definition); with a million dollar, each region can get an equivalent of 100,000dollars. Even if the best three are selected and the amount shared amongst them (i.e. a minimum of 30,000dollars) , this will be 30 start-ups every year. Government can provide an office space to help these start-ups for a period of five years to ensure their sustainability and survival since it stands to benefit immensely with each success. If the government decides to commit to this for a decade, this will result in 300 start-ups. Of course, its such start-ups which will create some employment for the teeming graduates in the society.

Copy-Right: If there is any administrative assistance to help poverty alleviation then it certainly must be Copy-right. Most developments start off as competitions which finally creates competitors in a market. As can be clearly observed, in all thriving markets in Ghana where there are recognized and healthy competitors, there's a drive for quality and uniqueness in brand. Lets consider the movie industry, its clear some producers have tried enough to create a unique label for their work e.g. Sparrow production, etc. This does not only enhance their creative ideas but also distinguishes them from their competitors.  Also consider the competition among musicians and acknowledge what these professional entertainers are doing; they are creating that niche for their endeavors. Some of which sometimes leads to bad rivalry like Shatta Wale and Samini. This is clearly the case for all aspects of life. Government must recognize the individual efforts of the youth who are earnestly trying to create a living from the ingenuity. Copy-right laws are the sure way to enable people earn a living by their creativity. This will encourage individuals to be creative whiles expecting rewards for their ideas backed by governments protection. This will similarly help to create more jobs. Imagine what will happen for every one creative idea that yields a company. Most of the people living in Ghana live by copying and a copy-right law will be ideal to help inventors receive the appropriate rewards for the effort.

Decentralization : The current system where every instruction must be taken in Accra and sent to the regions creates more systematic lapses and increases inefficiencies. A gradual systematic change towards a more decentralized system of governance is vrey appropriate. Election of District and Municipal Executives should be considered as a means towards decentralization and poverty alleviation. How will decentralization cure the canker poverty alleviation? Decentralization increases accountability to the citizenry, this removes several redtapeism, nepotism and yields a significant reduction to corruption. Election of MMDCEs will for example give an autonomy to the direction of development of the districts and dissolve the presidency from such debacles as occurs often regarding the selection of MMDCEs. An elected official will run on his policies towards improving the living conditions of the people in the district. It'll sensitize the citizenry on what is relevant for their various communities. An improved disctrict or municipality will finally yield an improved country at large.

Decentralization of the health system for instance will prevent unecessary health workers strike actions whiles improving the health conditions of many people. Collective contracts usually leads to strike. If hospitals are made to hire health professionals they need, it'll encourage professionals to work on themselves and aim for top positions are performance. When all medical doctors are lumped into promotion based on years of service, there is no incentive to acquiriing knowledge and setting new standards as it won't really pay much dividend. There's no incentive to trying to find something groundbreaking in the profession. For example, decentralization of the health system can be done region-wise or district-wise. I think this will improve significantly the health delivery and the living conditions of people. Good health is the most significant poverty reduction. It'll create new jobs as health professionals will recognize new needs in the system.


To be continued...