Alban Kingsford Sumana Bagbin, Second Deputy Speaker of Parliament, has differed on the outcome of a recent survey that ranked Ghana as the fourth (4th) happiest country in the whole of sub-Sahara Africa.
In reaction to the ranking by the World Happiness Report released by the Sustainable Development Solutions Network for the United Nations, he said the report appeared to be out of phase with the reality on the ground.
“State-sponsored militancy, rising cost of living, rising fuel and electricity prices, kidnappings, graduate unemployment – these are some of the highlights of our national life so far, how this state of affair is a source of happiness in Ghana, really leaves a lot of room for questions,” Bagbin said in a statement copied to the Ghana News Agency in Accra.
According to him, constant demonstrations and protest marches against the government, rather indicated that Ghanaians were becoming angrier.
“This is a country in which, contract killings and Police brutalities have now become a regular feature. People have become very suspicious and people are living in fear all the time.
“The collapse of businesses has reached unprecedented levels leading to many losing their jobs, it couldn’t possibly be true that we are happier under these circumstances than a few years back,” Mr. Bagbin said.
The Nadowli-Kaleo MP’s take was in reaction to the recent claim that the mood of Ghanaians had improved between 2016 and 2018 making the country the 4th happiest place in West Africa.
According to an international survey firm, Gallup, which undertook the survey from 2016 to 2018, Ghana improved her ranking to 99 from 108 (2018) in the global ranking of 156 countries.
In the Sub-Saharan African ranking, Ghana placed fourth behind Mauritius (57), Nigeria (85) and Cameroon (96) in the top five which was completed by neighbouring Ivory Coast (99).
And the ranking was computed based on factors such as gross domestic product, social support from friends and family, healthy life expectancy, freedom to make life choices, generosity, perceived corruption and recent emotions of citizens -- both happy and sad.
However, Mr Bagbin observed that the truth on the ground was that the country’s gross international reserves had depreciated significantly, while the local currency also depreciated. “As for the claim that corruption has improved, even a child knows that the perception of corruption has not really improved.”
He urged the Government not to allow itself to be deceived into thinking that Ghana had become happier, urging that practical steps must be taken to diffuse tension hanging over the nation like a cloud.
Source: GNA
Disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. |
A COUNTRY WHOSE MORTUARY MEN WENT ON STRIKE TO BE TERMED AMONGST THE HAPPIEST COUNTRIES?I CANT THINK THINK FAR.FIRST IN THE HISTORY OF THE COUNTRY FOR MORTUARY MEN TO GO ON STRIKE.HMMMMMMMM GOD HELP MOTHER GHANA
Of Course, Babin belongs to the NDC who never sees anything better in the present Administration only for his selfish political interest, the feelings and the true aspirationns of the Ghanaian citizens are for him inmaterial. Therefore, of late the Position of the NDC to important national issues is for me irrelevant and unfaithful. I never expect that a political Party could stoop so low in the want of winning political power.
"Nigeria and ivory Coast placed ahead of Ghana. Honourable please ask yourself if all the challenges you mentioned, i.e "State-sponsored militancy, rising cost of living, rising fuel and electricity prices, kidnappings, graduate unemployment" do not exist in those countries. Be grateful with what you have" MAWUTO, THANKS FOR YOUR WORDS. YOU SEE, MAWUTO, LEAVE BAGBIN ALONE. PEOPLE DON'T LIKE GOOD THINGS IN LIFE. ALWAYS WANT TO HEAR BAD NEWS. FOR SOME OF US WE ARE HAPPY TO HEAR THAT GHANA IS A HAPPY PLEASE TO LIVE.
Nigeria and ivory Coast placed ahead of Ghana. Honourable please ask yourself if all the challenges you mentioned, i.e "State-sponsored militancy, rising cost of living, rising fuel and electricity prices, kidnappings, graduate unemployment" do not exist in those countries. Be grateful with what you have.
You will not be happy when marry a woman who is suppose to give you happiness and comfort and you marry her biological sister in addition, why do you expect happiness in your life?
You will not be happy seeing your wife and your wife's sister struggling to prove to you who is more lovely and sincere to you in your household .An educated illiterate like you.
I humbly accept all the points raised so far by Hon. Bagbin. What about viewing it from the other angle? Does the good things so far exceeds the bad stuffs he raised? I guess so.The survey findings were statistically computed and it turns out that the effective result is after all, happiness Stop this hypocrisy Honourable
Please go and contest the findings and stop the bickering. If it had been an adverse report you would have accepted it. YOU ARE A 'FANNEY' CHARACTER.
COMING NEWS, NANA ADDO MUST PROVIDE FOOD, CLOTH AND HOUSES FOR GHANA PEOPLE AND MUST SUPPLY MONIES AND HE WILL WIN 100 PERCENT, MAHAMA IS LAST. IN 2020 ELECTION, GHANA PEOPLE DONT LIKE HIM , HE HAS BAD TRACK RECORD, GHANA BY PP GH , ,NOTE SEND TO NAN A AND THE REST OF THE WORLD,