Thursday morning, feeling fine
First of all, thanks to Dave for putting up the last few posts (and maybe this one) because internet here has been so bad. Apparently the last few might be slightly out of order, but I’m sure you all can figure it out.
It’s Thursday morning and I’m now fully recovered. Or at least 99%. Even yesterday, I was pretty much fine. I was at the office for most of the day and felt pretty normal. The only odd thing is that I didn’t eat anything apart from two bowls of oatmeal and a bit of bread all day and still didn’t feel that hungry. I'm not going to be travelling this weekend though, which is too bad. I just don't feel up to it.
Today is a public holiday for Ramadan. Apparently, the old president, Rawlings, relied heavily on the minority populations for support (the Asante seem to hate him), so he instituted a lot of ethnic holidays. People here vote very closely along ethnic lines I’ve realized, which can be a bit alarming. I don’t think I’ve talked to a single Asante who has more than one or two favourable things to say about Rawlings, and anything positive is always said with a qualifier attached!
One thing that I’ve learned in the past few days is just how great the wage disparity between Ghana and the West really is. Doctors in public hospitals make about $400 dollars a month salary. There is an Additional Duty Hours Allowance that they fight tooth and nail for, but I can’t imagine that pays them tens of thousands a year. Because Ghana is like all but three countries in the world (Cuba, North Korea, and…Canada!), there is a parallel private system. Still, it has become clear why most doctors leave Ghana. If the wage disparity were less than 2000% (minimum), then maybe more would stay. Policemen make just over $100 a month. No wonder so many of them take bribes.
So while Ghana needs its best and brightest to remain here for it to develop more quickly, the money simply isn’t there to pay them reasonably. We talk about immigration as a potential solution to our shortage of doctors (and other professionals) in Canada. And we also talk about the need to help the developing world prosper. It’s funny how we don’t really notice how immigrants are also emigrants and that their emigration hinders third world development.
I am not saying that I am in favour of restricting immigration (or emigration) at all. People should be free to live wherever the opportunity to succeed (and contribute) is greatest. Hopefully, in the future, wages in Ghana will increase enough to keep people here. One policy that could be pursued is some form of bonding for medical students and nurses. Make tuition cheap, but don’t award them any degree until they have worked in Ghana for a certain length of time, after which they would be free to leave if they so desired. Interesting food for thought!
Oh yeah, I can’t help but point out that it’s November and I’m going to work in shorts and a t-shirt.
It’s Thursday morning and I’m now fully recovered. Or at least 99%. Even yesterday, I was pretty much fine. I was at the office for most of the day and felt pretty normal. The only odd thing is that I didn’t eat anything apart from two bowls of oatmeal and a bit of bread all day and still didn’t feel that hungry. I'm not going to be travelling this weekend though, which is too bad. I just don't feel up to it.
Today is a public holiday for Ramadan. Apparently, the old president, Rawlings, relied heavily on the minority populations for support (the Asante seem to hate him), so he instituted a lot of ethnic holidays. People here vote very closely along ethnic lines I’ve realized, which can be a bit alarming. I don’t think I’ve talked to a single Asante who has more than one or two favourable things to say about Rawlings, and anything positive is always said with a qualifier attached!
One thing that I’ve learned in the past few days is just how great the wage disparity between Ghana and the West really is. Doctors in public hospitals make about $400 dollars a month salary. There is an Additional Duty Hours Allowance that they fight tooth and nail for, but I can’t imagine that pays them tens of thousands a year. Because Ghana is like all but three countries in the world (Cuba, North Korea, and…Canada!), there is a parallel private system. Still, it has become clear why most doctors leave Ghana. If the wage disparity were less than 2000% (minimum), then maybe more would stay. Policemen make just over $100 a month. No wonder so many of them take bribes.
So while Ghana needs its best and brightest to remain here for it to develop more quickly, the money simply isn’t there to pay them reasonably. We talk about immigration as a potential solution to our shortage of doctors (and other professionals) in Canada. And we also talk about the need to help the developing world prosper. It’s funny how we don’t really notice how immigrants are also emigrants and that their emigration hinders third world development.
I am not saying that I am in favour of restricting immigration (or emigration) at all. People should be free to live wherever the opportunity to succeed (and contribute) is greatest. Hopefully, in the future, wages in Ghana will increase enough to keep people here. One policy that could be pursued is some form of bonding for medical students and nurses. Make tuition cheap, but don’t award them any degree until they have worked in Ghana for a certain length of time, after which they would be free to leave if they so desired. Interesting food for thought!
Oh yeah, I can’t help but point out that it’s November and I’m going to work in shorts and a t-shirt.
posted by Tony at 3:18 p.m.
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