Sometimes, the price of peace in Ghana is pretending not to see what’s right in front of you. You see corruption, incompetence, hypocrisy, and problems that everyone complains about in private but rarely confronts in public. After a while, you realize constantly acknowledging it all can leave you mentally exhausted!
my heart goes out to ALL the hardworking Ghanaians who wake up everyday of the week, spend ridiculous hours sitting in traffic to get to work, get stressed by their bosses at work, then have to spend ridiculous hours in traffic to get back home.
you get home and realize your whole house is flooded.
i’m so sorry you have to deal with this. you don’t deserve this.
you truly don’t.
you make this country bearable. your light, your resilience indicates there can be light at the end of the tunnel.
don’t give up though. we will fix this together. WE WILL.
Ghanaians are painfully opportunistic when it comes to pricing. When the sachet water producers announced an increase, government stepped in to halt it, yet some still went ahead to raise prices anyway. What is even more troubling is that retailers of bottled water have also used it as an excuse to increase theirs.
Businesses are quick to raise prices at the slightest opportunity, but never ready to reduce them when conditions improve. Instead of fair competition protecting consumers, every rumor or announcement becomes a chance for them to maximize profit.
Imagine a country where businesses exploit basic necessities such as water and food. 🤦♀️
The problem is not just inflation; it is greed, weak enforcement, and the lack of accountability in our pricing culture. Until there is stronger regulation and a sense of social responsibility, consumers will continue to suffer whenever any small excuse arises.
Legal Education 101.
Before You do any business in Ghana: Read This First!
One of the most recurrent legal problems I witness in Ghana, is due to either our trusting nature; or the informality of our business transactions
One of the biggest mistakes people make is not signing anything at all.
You go to buy land, and they tell you, “Just pay first, we will prepare the indenture later.” You give someone money for a service, and there is no written record.
You pay a deposit, and everything is based on trust and verbal promises.
That is how many people lose money; or get arrested for defrauding by false pretences.
Before anything else, understand this: if money is changing hands, something should be written and signed. Even a simple document is better than nothing. It should clearly state how much you are paying, who you are paying, and what the payment is for.
Without that, you may struggle to prove anything later.
Once you are dealing with a document, then the next step is to protect yourself before you sign.
1. Don’t rush - If someone is pushing you to sign quickly, pause. You have a right to take your time.
2. Read it. All of it. - There is no such thing as “just sign, it’s standard.” If it is important enough to sign, it is important enough to read.
3. If you don’t understand it, don’t sign it. - Ask questions. If the explanation is unclear, walk away or get someone to help you review it.
4. Check the names. - Make sure your name is correct. Make sure the other person or company is real.
5. Be clear on what you are paying for. - Especially for land. Is it full payment? A deposit? Documentation fees? Site allocation? It must be written clearly.
6. Pay attention to the money terms.
How much? When? Are there penalties for delay? Is the money refundable?
7. Look for what happens when things go wrong. Can they cancel easily? Will you lose your money? Can they change terms later?
8. Never sign a document with blank spaces. Anything left blank can be filled later. Not in your favour.
9. Take your copy immediately. Don’t leave without it. Ever.
10. When in doubt, ask for help.
A lawyer, a friend, someone who understands these things. It can save you a lot.
Shalom