Ghana is well organised. Public buildings are well maintained while there is conducive environment for local and international investments. Accra, the country’s capital, like many cities in the country, is full of lively business activities. Popular Ring Road in Accra, parades some Nigerian banks such as Access Bank, UBA, First Bank, Fidelity Bank and GTB, amongst others. Ghanaians love Nigerians that are law-abiding. Many Nigerians are doing legitimate businesses in the country. However, unlike Nigerians, Ghanaians are disciplined, dutiful, trustworthy and patriotic. Ghanaians religiously obey traffic lights and do not drive against traffic. This helps in ensuring free flow of traffic. Unlike in Nigeria, traffic offenders know they cannot escape punishment since the policemen who are polite and well dressed, are incorruptible. Ghanaians constituting population of 25.4 million, live together peacefully as Christians and Muslims.
Dumping refuse or other waste products such as papers, empty cans or plastic containers on the ground is a serious offence. This is why roads, streets and other environments, including public and private offices and residential apartments, are clean. Unlike in Nigeria, there is sanity on roads in Benin, Togo and Ghana due to strict enforcement of traffic laws by relevant officials that perform their duties diligently without gratification. Unlike in Lagos, commercial vehicle drivers and conductors have great respect for passengers. Cases of assault or killing of passengers by conductors over N20 change do not exist in Accra. Conductors, known as mates, are well dressed and avoid clashes with passengers who are treated like kings as it is done in civilized climes. Unlike in Lagos where commercial vehicle drivers are dirty and unruly, their counterparts in Accra are neat and courteous.
On reaching the bus stop, the driver clearly parks the vehicle far away from the main road to avoid being sanctioned. As soon as he parks, passengers at the bus stop, unlike in Lagos, gently enter the bus without being harassed or humiliated by either the driver (pilot) or the conductor (mate). Noticing the bus is full, the mate informs the pilot who then moves to the next bus stop. It does not take more than five minutes for the mate to collect transport fares from passengers and he in turn, gives change to those concerned. No cases of bickering over change between mates and passengers. Passengers are sure that the driver would drop them at their preferred bus stops unfailingly. This, unlike what obtains in Lagos or in Nigeria at large, has consistently built a lot of confidence and mutually beneficial relationship between passengers and commercial vehicle operators in Ghana. Incidentally, there is no role for agberos and their corrupt godfathers in Ghana’s commercial transport business architecture. No wonder there is sanity in this sub-sector of the economy unlike in Nigeria where due to insensitivity of government at various levels to the pitiable plight of commuters in the country, as well as non-existence of clear-cut result-oriented national transport policy, the hapless citizenry have remained at the mercy of shylock transport business operators and their corrupt collaborators in government.
It is noteworthy that unlike in Nigeria where, in spite of incalculable public funds, past and present administrations have reportedly sunk into the corruption-ridden power sector, millions of citizens cannot access electricity supply, 24-hour uninterrupted electricity supply is guaranteed in Ghana. During my stay there, I experienced power outage only once for about 20 minutes. This is why being the engine that drives national economy, uninterrupted electricity supply is helping to boost the economy of Ghana through gainful employment for youths to reduce crime rate while the considerable number of hairdressers , welders and other artisans, as well as electricians, small and medium scale entrepreneurs, vulcanisers and blue-chip firms are still in business. Since Ghana can boast of uninterrupted power supply, I was not surprised that everywhere is massively lit to scare away miscreants unlike the deplorable situation in Nigeria despite its monumental human and natural endowments.
It is an irony that despite its failure to substantially meet the increasing electricity requirements of its almost 190 million citizens, Nigeria is proudly selling electricity to Niger, Burkina Faso and others in Africa now enjoying uninterrupted electricity supply. What a misplaced priority?. Is there sense in taking care of outsiders while insiders are suffering perpetually?. The world-class highway from Benin to Togo, equipped lavishly with solar-powered lights, is fantastic. No single ghastly accident on the smooth road compared with Lagos–Ibadan expressway which is death trap, claiming human lives every day. Mischievous Nigerians are arguing ignorantly saying it is unfair to compare Nigeria with its neigbouring countries due to its huge population. What does huge population have to do with development? The bane of Nigeria’s development is lack of responsible, selfless and incorruptible leaders to motivate the people towards meaningful growth and development. For as long as this is so, big brother Nigeria will not get its due respect from other African countries.
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