The reasons for low productivity in Ghana

SOME REASONS FOR LOW PRODUCTIVITY IN GHANA

Laziness and irresponsible attitude of workers

Employees can be found during working hours reading newspapers/magazines and novels. Most workers display a total lack of concern for their job, often labeling it “government work”.

Financial malpractices

Embezzlement of funds and other forms of financial malpractices are commonplace in the workplaces. This is partly due to the fact that our society glorifies wealth, irrespective of how it is acquired.

Lack of effective supervision

There is laxity at the offices and other places of work. This is generally due to the absence of effective supervision on the part of the managers at most workplaces. This leads to a situation where people fail or refuse to do what they are paid and expected to do.

Poor quality of the workforce

This is seen in a large number of unskilled workers. Sometimes, this prevails even in very sensitive areas where proper qualification is required. For example, a Commission of Enquiry into one of our State establishments observed that: “The quality of staff employed to keep the books of Accounts records documents is below that necessarily required for the establishment”.

Lack of adequate incentives

In some cases, the incentives for stimulating productivity are absent. These incentives would have helped to stimulate higher performance and productivity. Where there is low remunerations, poor conditions of workers, etc., there is no job satisfaction and therefore lead to low output.

Excessive political interference

There is a lot of political interference in the operations of many public institutions or government subverted organizations. This does not allow for the smooth operations to positively affect the bottom-line of several state institutions.

Obsolete or obsolescent equipment

Some of the state organizations have to rely on very old equipment to execute their mandate. Coupled with the lack of spare parts to replace obsolete machines, the result is frequent disruptions in production, affecting productivity.

WHY IS IT NECESSARY TO INCREASE OUTPUT/PRODUCTIVITY IN GHANA?

To feed the ever-increasing population

The population of Ghana has been increasing very fast. In 1960, Ghana’s population was just about 6.8 million. Today Ghana’s population is over 24 million. This means that to be able to feed the growing population, we need to increase output to meet the increasing population.

Increase output to reduce dependence on others

Ghana is unable to produce enough to feed her population though it is regarded as an agricultural country. To be able to feed its teeming population, therefore, Ghana needs to increase output in all sectors of the economy to become more self-reliant.

To save foreign exchange and promote domestic development

The absence of increased productivity in a nation makes that nation heavily dependent on donor funding. In the face of donor fatigue, Ghana cannot continue to rely on support from outside. If Ghana is able to increase domestic production, a lot of foreign exchange can be saved and also earned through increased exports.

Entails profits for the worker

Increased output means greater profits, and hence better pay and improved conditions of work. An establishment which sees no improvement in output will operate at a loss if it increases salary etc.

Increased employment

Increased productivity means more money for business establishments, and this also means the expansion of jobs and the employment of more labour.      

More revenue for the public exchequer

As the output is increased the government gets more revenue in the form of taxes on business establishments and from individuals, etc. The government is thus in a better position to improve social services such as education, health (hospitals/clinics), roads, etc.

HOW TO ACHIEVE INCREASED OUTPUT IN GHANA

By improving salaries and conditions of work

The powers that be must ensure that they improve the condition of the worker. The conditions of some workers are deplorable, they are overworked, salaries are scanty, etc. One can, therefore, not expect an increase in qualitative output if conditions remain so.  Governments must encourage and promote sound labour relations and fair employment practices etc.,

Paying attention to research

In order to increase productivity, there is a need for extensive research on the country’s products. For example, research on how to boost the quality of products. The Cocoa Research Institute, for example, must research and come out with high-yielding varieties of the crop.

Ensuring discipline at the workplace

Improvement in attitude to work can be ensured through supervision. In the absence of supervision, workers adopt a lazy attitude to work which cannot lead to increased productivity.

A reorientation of workers

This is important for increased productivity. Workers must be thoroughly educated to understand the essence of contributing their quota to national development, The individual worker must be willing to take initiative and make innovations, and be duty-conscious.

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