My Journey to Nzulezu “the Village On Water”

 I have been working in Cape Coast during the week, lecturing on the Masters in Microfinance programme hosted by the University of Cape Coast. The weekend following my week of work had to be something away from work especially after continuous hours of teaching. I needed to give myself a weekend that would prepare me for the week ahead. 

The best option for a good weekend was the decision to embark on a trip to the ever talked about Nzulezu; the village built on water. I have visited various places of interest in and around Central Region, I however was looking out for a new experience and this guided my choice to visit Nzulezu in the Jomoro District of the Western Region of Ghana.  

To be sure of the route- since I could not lay my hands on any local material for directions to Nzulezu-, I had to take directions from Google Map. This was an excellent experience. The GPS was very accurate first giving me the directions and estimated time needed to reach the final destination. From the starting point; Sasakawa Guest House it was to take about 2 hours 45 minutes. 

The journey started a little after 8 am. The drive to Takoradi was smooth and enjoyable. The   roads from Cape Coast to Takoradi had its fair share of potholes, however, there was much indication that efforts were in place to construct the roads that served as bypass to the main road leading to Tarkwa -Axim road. The remarkable thing I observed about the road network to Nzulezu was   that they were very motorable; providing a sense of comfort for road users. The roads connecting the Ellembelle District to the Jomoro District had seen massive facelifts. Bridges were being constructed over rivers to replace old and narrow bridges, new roads were under constructions and old ones were being rehabilitated.   I was very impressed first about the road networks. This was because I was expecting to drive on very bad roads as typical of most of the tourist places I had visited. Most roads leading to the very places of interest in Ghana are   bad and bumpy. That expectation did not come to pass as I made the trip to Nzulezu.  

I was happy observing the tangible development outputs seen as I journeyed on. What I was most pleased about was that these things had some bearings on contributing to the overall development of the nation specifically for the people leaving in the communities.  The landscaping and the beauty of the vegetation dotted along the road to Nzulezu was a sight to behold. The rubber and palm plantations adds up to the beauty of the landscape not to talk about the long stretch of the tar winding road network. 

My sadness was fueled by what had happened to our river bodies. It was very obvious that illegal mining activities had gradually destroyed our water bodies. The Ankobra River for instance had turned totally brown. It appeared more like a milo drink taking away the beauty of the river. Clearly even without a background ecology, there was everything wrong with the way majority of the rivers appeared.  Something must be done   to reverse this trend. 

Apart from the road networks, I came across the very talked about Atuabo Gas plant and Anokye Gas plants. From observatory perspectives, these plants where operating in full swing.  My interest in the Atuabo Gas was because of the national energy crisis. The many reasons that have been ascribed as the course of the “dumsor” was the challenges associated with the completion of the Atuabo Gas. I would have loved to stop over and actually understand the dynamics surrounding the Atuabo Gas. I knew it was not going to be possible for me since I was not a political figure. I can only stand afar and make my own notes. Even photography was not permitted.  

The Journey to Nzulezu was on and unabated. The Google Map estimated the final destination time from Atuabo to   Nzulezu at about 40 minutes. Checking from the Google Map, I had reached Nzulezu. I was not very sure about the Google Map this time. There was nothing, not even a common sign post that gave the indication that truly one had reached the town from which you can cross the river to the village. I doubted the judgment of the Google Map and drove past to the next town.  May be it was to be, since driving past got me to notice a beautiful resort; Karela Hotel & Resort that finally became the perfect place for lunch after the visit to Nzulezu Village. 

I drove some few minutes further heading to Half Assini. I pulled up the brakes to ask for directions from two gentlemen who were walking by the side of the road.  These men confirmed what the Google Map had confirmed already. Anyway, I enjoyed a typical Ghanaian directional moment from the men who were trying to direct me to the exact building where I was to receive the needed assistance. I had to cut in and let the gentlemen at least know that I had gotten the direction since it was becoming a long lecture with signs and gestures.

I turned to head back to locate the green building as described by the gentlemen. It was about 3 minutes drive back. Finally, the green painted building was in sight. The office from where the journey was to begin was just a turn away from the green building and located geographically behind it. For now that building is the only landmark for locating the Nzulezu office or tourism centre (I seriously don’t know what to call it).

From the office there was a sight of the sea to the south and a make shift restaurant. There were a number of people mostly men numbering about 8 who I later found out were the tour guides. Two mini vans were also parked there with about 17 passengers who were also on the same trip. I spoke to one of the gentlemen around and told him my mission there. I was directed to the main office within the center’s building to a lady sitting behind a table just at the entrance. She explained to me what I needed to do to be able to embark on the trip to the village on water. A man who looks like the supervisor after paying the fees introduced me to a young man by name Nathaniel. Nathaniel was going to take me and other visitors on the journey by river to the Village. He was a tour guide and the captain of the boat. Nathaniel in a pleasant voice welcomed me with a smile and extended his hand for a handshake. He informed me that three other people were to join me in the boat for our ride to the village. I did not hesitate. I was just looking forward to experiencing the final and most important part of the day’s journey. 

I asked the guide to use the washroom before the start of our journey. I don’t think it was because I was scared of the water trip. It was a pure natural exercise. My impression about the washroom facility in the place at the office that could receive over 600 guests on a holiday and weekend was in bad taste. The place was not well kept. Something must be done about this.  

The guide walked the four of us across the street where there was a wooden pathway nicely constructed. This was almost about 30 meters stretch of a wooden pathway that took visitors to the bank of the river Amanzule (meaning people’s river).  Actually we were told that the portion was a carnal constructed and not a natural course of the river. This according to the guide was done to ease the transportation of people during the raining season. He further told us that, during the dry season the carnal dries up and therefore visitors had to drive down to the very banks of the Amanzule River to embark on the boat journey to Nzulezu. 

Our guide handed over to us nicely kept life jackets as he told us that our journey on the river to the village was going to last for 45 minutes in and 45 minutes out. One by one we embarked onto an averagely tiny boat to begin our journey. The journey on the river was fun, experiential but very scary. The boat ride will scare most people. The 45 minutes enjoyable ride started feeling painful after about 15 minutes of cruising time. The seat like structure was not too comfortable. There was not much room for anyone to stretch the legs. 

The condition experienced in the canoe took away the pleasure of the trip as one starts feeling the pressure of the wooden seats pressing against the body.  The lack of adequate information advising people to dress appropriately in order to shield oneself from the scotching sun did not help matters. For instance on the day of the trip the sun was scotching and to enjoy the cruise one will need a hat or sun shades to reduce the severity of the sun rays.

After about 40 minutes on the canoe, the village was in sight. The canoe docked in front of one of the major “highways” within the village. One by one, we were assisted to disembark. Our guide informed us that the major road that divided the village into two longitudinally was known as the highway. Life on the Nzulezu River was normal although the people there did not have a health post.  There were provision shops (Nzulezu “Melcome”), drinking bar, access to electricity and pipe borne water, school, churches and a motel. We were guided through the City On Water and finally was introduced to one of the sons of the Nzulezu Chief. The Prince spoke to us about the various challenges confronting their village. He lamented on the need for professional teachers to assist in the teaching of their children and a possible health post for the community. 

All said and done, from observations and discussions, it was very obvious that the village which is serving as a tourist site needed to be preserved. It was clear that the areas serving as land for their building were being polluted with household waste which calls for appropriate action. The chief’s palace as at the time of visit was raised down and efforts were being put in place to rebuild it. Truth remains, there is not much to see and experience when you get to the Nzulezu village. Apart from the beautiful long cruise on the river the village really does not seem to have much for tourist except for the way of life of the people with poverty as their hallmark. 

At the end of my trip the question that kept coming to my mind was “what is the Ministry of Tourism doing to make Nzulezu worth visiting ten more times”?

THE GHANAIAN FINANCIAL SECTOR: MANY PLAYERS LESS OUTREACH

Introduction

Ghana has a well-defined formal financial sector as set out by its central bank that is the Bank of Ghana (BOG). Since the financial sector reforms, the sector has recorded impressive development in terms of numbers and nature of financial institutions.  The main actors in the financial sector of Ghana are the Capital Markets, Banks, Rural and Community Banks, Non-Bank financial, Insurance Companies, Pension and Provident Funds and the Microfinance Institutions.

Irrespective of the vibrant financial sector, Ghana still has a large unbanked and under population. The objective of this article is to take a look at the various reasons hindering the ability of the banking sector in contributing to financial inclusion in Ghana.

Ghana and Financial Inclusion

Financial inclusion or inclusive financing is the delivery of financial services at affordable cost to sections of disadvantaged and low-income segments of society. Financial inclusion aims at providing financial access to non-banked and under-bank population with affordable and appropriate products. The important thing about financial inclusion is not only about financial access. Access to financial services can not only be addressed by having many established financial institutions within an economy.

Achieving financial inclusion entails ensuring that the prices of the financial products designed are affordable (in terms of the direct and indirect cost associated with acquiring a financial service or product) to the clients especially the low income clients.

For the purpose of this article much focus will be on the universal banks and financial institutions which form part of Ghana’s microfinance sector as directed by the microfinance policy guidelines.

Considering the number of unit banks operating in Ghana, it is expected that the financial sector players will have recorded deeper outreach with its services and products. Deeper outreach such that, more poor and low income clients would participate directly in the formal financial sector. However, that is not the case.

The cumulative single financial institutions operating in Ghana by the end of 2014 is tabulated below.

Nature of organization	Number of regulated institutions
Banks	26
Rural Banks	136
Savings and Loan	26
MFIs (Deposits)	344
MFIs FNGO	5
Money Lenders (companies and Individual)	116
Susu Companies	300
Individual Susu Collectors	1,500
Others (Finance houses, leasing, Mortgage etc.	33
Credit Unions	538(approximate)
Total	1,541

Source: From many sources.

The table above shows the number of different types of financial institutions operating in Ghana.  It is important to indicate that these are without their branches. For example, the rural banks are noted to have over 700 branches or agencies and they can be found in every district capital of Ghana. Currently all the major bank’s with few exceptions, have their presence in all the regional capitals of Ghana.  The savings and loans company have less regional spread. They can, however, be found in very economically active regions with majority having strong presence in Greater Accra, Ashanti and Brong Ahafo Regions.

The underlying objective of looking at the number of units banks and financial service providers is to assume that the more the numbers of financial sector players in an economy, the better their coverage or outreach which should directly result in increase in the total amount of money in circulation through the banking sector and overall growth of the banking population.  The reality is that, in spite of the growth in number of financial service providers, Ghana still have a low banking population and the economy still  have  large amount of money outside the  formal banking sector.

In  2009 Ghana had 1.2 million bank account holders out of a population of 23 million (a ratio of 5%) compared to Nigeria's 23 million banks accounts holders among a population of 140 (more than 16%). Country comparison ranked according to financial exclusion levels of 12 countries in Africa indicates that Ghana has the fifth lowest level of financial exclusion of 44% (Finscope, 2010.) The Finscope Ghana 2010 survey further reveals that almost 3 in 4 (73.1%) Ghanaian adults claim that none of the income they receive passes through a bank account. It further reported that a total of 44% of Ghanaian adults do not use any form of financial product or mechanism (be it formal or informal) to manage their financial activities. According the findings there are still 29.4% of Ghana’s population that depends on informal financial services.

Microfinance institutions have played significant role in extending financial services to poor and low income clients. This is because it has been noted that, MFIs per their nature have the systems and methodologies needed to reach financially excluded clients.  In spite of the role of MFIs in promoting financial inclusion we cannot overlook the role of  traditional banks insupporting the call for financial services to reach majority of the people wherever they can be found in Ghana’s  economy. This is so because banks are major influencers in the Ghanaian financial sector in terms of assets and customer base. The universal banks in Ghana dominate the banking industry. They control 90% of the total banking assets (FINSSP 11, 2012). Their role in providing financial services even for the poor and low clients cannot be discounted.  For example some universal banks over the years have developed specific products and services that targets low income clients. These banks have adopted strategies to enable them to efficiently provide services to financially excluded clients or micro clients. Some of the notable strategies used by the universal banks interested in downscaling are as follows:

·       banks creating internal microfinance departments or units to provide microfinance services

·       establishing  partnership or linkages with other MFIs (Fidelity Bank and Ghana Association of Microfinance Companies  

·       developing different business entities (HFC – Boafo, EB-Accion) to meet their objective of targeting the unbanked clients.

ADDRESSING THE LARGE INFORMAL MARKET

The entire financial sector and key stakeholders should concern themselves to understand why there is still a huge informal financial market and what is hindering the sector in helping to increase the total amount of money circulating through the formal financial sector.

Understanding the dynamics of development financing and the role of banks as well as the nature of informal sector clients can help in addressing the major barriers to outreach. Increasing formal financial access the non-banked population is important since there is a link between the level of poverty and participation of financial services. This is to say that financial services can provide the needed catalyst for poverty reduction.

Some of the challenges hindering the role of banks and other financial service players in achieving outreach are as follows:

No target markets-“all play all”

 Ghana’s financial regulatory requirements are clearly stated. Sector players know and understand what will qualify  an institution as a universal bank, savings and loans, rural and community banks, microfinancecompany (deposit or non-deposits) money lenders, etc. It further defines what these entities are permitted to do or not to do. For instance, savings and loans companies (S&L) and rural and community banks (RCBs) by regulations cannot operate foreign currency accounts but the universal banks are permitted to engage in such operations.

One major challenge with the entire regulatory policy especially with regards to institutions under the microfinance policy guidelines is that, the policy does not define which sector of the markets or type of clients these entities should target or specific areas where these entities can operate. What, therefore, happens in practice is that there is no segregation of customers or targets by the financial institutions. This is evident by the findings captured in the 2014 banking survey which was conducted by Price Water House Coopers (pwc) that some bank executives admitted that already S&Ls and RCBs are competing with them in the same retail and commercial deposit markets. This, therefore, suggests that the banks and other institutions within the entire financial sector are targeting the same clients. For instance as observed by  Finscope, the   Ghana 2010 report indicated that 55% of clients that are banked (34%) also uses other type of financial products or services. It can be deduced from this finding that  clients do engage more than one financial service provider to meet  their financial needs. For example, some clients of universal banks will turn to other financial service providers, credit Unions, MFIs, S & L to acquire  loans or other services because the  smaller financial institutions may have quicker turnaround time for product delivery or may have less rigorous  loan screening methodologies compared with the universal banks. It is therefore common to find clients who have financial relationships with a universal bank also having dealings with a microfinance company.

To further improve outreach and deepen financial access, financial institutions that have been registered as microfinance companies under the microfinance policy guidelines must have a defined market. This target market can be defined by income levels, type or nature and size of their enterprises or targeting using poverty score card. This can assist to enable microfinance companies to target the clients that they have been created to serve and not participate in the same market as the Universal banks.

Lack of product innovation and research

For financial institutions to deepen outreach, it is very important to consider the nature of the financial products that is being served to clients and potential clients, the delivery processes, appropriateness of the product to solve the needs of the clients and more importantly the affordability of the product to the clients in question with further consideration to the sustainability or profitability of the financial institution delivery the product.

There is lack of product differentiation in Ghana’s financial sector. The sector has many banks and other financial service providers; however, there is very limited differentiation in the products and services available. There is limited array of products or services from which clients can choose from to meet their specific needs. We can refer to these products as generic products. Across the types of financial institutions, loans targeting salaried workers as a product are very predominant. This is because of the relatively less risk associated with the development, implementation and management of this kind of product.

The fact is that many of the banks and financial institutions do not spend enough time and money to research and develop appropriate products that can comfortably assist the larger non – banking population to meet their financial complexities. Financial institutions and banks in Ghana sell more off the shelve products to their clients. When one bank takes the pain to develop a product, majority of the others banks either copy or make some few adjustments and goes ahead to implement the products without a critical understanding of the underlying dynamics of the target markets.

Although there are somehow appreciable developments in product delivery through technology, overall there is still not enough proof to demonstrate how technology is helping to deepen outreach with greater emphasis on reducing cost of transaction, convince and access.

 Where are the products and services to provide loans to smallholders, medium and commercial farmers? The quick rebuttal to this is that agricultural loans are risky. Yes they are, but the good point is that even with similar or same risk, financial sector players in Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda still find agriculture  a profitable venture to invest in, so why not the banks in Ghana?

 I definitely agree that the state has a part to play in organizing the agricultural market. However, there is more that can be done if appropriate products are developed to meet specific financial needs of farmers and other aggregators along specific agricultural value chain. The approach of many banks is that they lump agriculture together as one whole component. However, there are many different aspects of agriculture and customized products can be designed to meet the needs of the players along specific value chain.

Banks must also develop workable loan screening methods to help them make quality loan decisions. An efficient screening tool will assist them capture the nature and character of their clients and potential clients. The screening methods of most banks and other financial institutions weigh towards already banking clients and they naturally select out clients in the informal sector of the economy due to perceive risk. Informal sector player clients are aware that banks are not very comfortable dealing with them. They know that the banks are not ready to assist them as local entrepreneurs because they think they are vulnerable to the conditions they set.  The banks are just not being innovative in their credit-delivery role. 

To ensure that the entire banking sector improves outreach and become very instrumental in the development process of the entire economy, it is important to understand that banking has moved beyond just circulating financial resources within the economy from the excess “cash holders” to “deficit clients within the economy. Banks must commit resources and time to develop very appropriate products to suit the needs and nature of the clients that are still outside the main financial sector.

Bank trained and not Development conscious  

Banking in Ghana operates more as ‘high street banking’. They operate in already known territories and are not comfortable and unwilling to develop new markets. This style of banking practiced by the universal banks has influenced all the non – banking financial institutions such that all their systems and processes are developed around that of the universal banks.

Another important thing to consider is how staff within the banking or financial sector are trained. Majority of the refresher courses organized within the financial sector are tailored around the traditional roles of banking. Most of the refresher programmes focuses on risk management, treasuring management, reconciliation, credit management, internal control, etc. This is not to say these programs or courses are not relevant. They are; but the capacity building of the staff should include developmental challenges, entrepreneurship, micro enterprise development and management, finance and development, product development, etc.

The fact is that Ghana is a developing country and, therefore, banks in Ghana cannot fully operate without having to understand the nature and characteristics that is associated with a developing country.

 The staff who have the responsibility of dealing with clients must appreciate the various developmental challenges and how to manage these challenges through the provision of financial services. Banking in a developing economy cannot evolve around debits and credits, salary loans, consumer loans and still expect to have a wider and deeper financial sector. Going forward, the various programmes and refresher courses for banking professionals must be reviewed to meet the current changes in order to have the needed skills to move Ghana’s financial sector towards achieving financial inclusion.

Conclusion

Ghana’s financial sector players can contribute immensely to the economic development agenda of the country. This can well be achieved if banks and financial institutions develop appropriate and innovative products with conscious efforts made to target economically active clients outside the formal financial sector. The challenge of infrastructure within the country can be solved by appropriate innovation that can assist the financial institutions to be efficient in their operations in order to achieve sustainability and the impact of their operations.

VACANCY FOR LEADERS

Leadership is crucial for progress, growth and performance for any human endeavor. The result of positive leadership is very tangible creating benefits that can be seen or felt.  Equally, the devastating effect of bad leadership is also very visible and tangible.

Leadership defines a successful home, church, enterprise or nation. Actually, leadership defines our personal lives.

Weighing the importance of leadership, it can be described in all terms as an essential goods or need and not just a want if humanity must see progress. Leadership by all standards can be likened to the role of oxygen for human existence.   

The importance of quality leadership is a common knowledge yet we are still locked up in choosing or appointing pseudo leaders. So why is that  although the importance of leadership is not debatable, there is not much being done to ensure that the next leaders are prepared to stand up to make the needed difference  as  made by other leaders like  Nelson Mandela, Kwame Nkrumah, etc.  

Take your time and list the main problems confronting our Country. Zoom your analysis to the district levels or the various organizations, either public or private and you will notice that the underlying problem facing all of these entities from growth and progress are lack of quality leadership. 

There are vacancies for quality leadership and this is very obvious considering the various challenges we are witnessing as a Country.  The vacancy for this leadership position is not synonymous to finding people to fill vacant positions. We don’t need bosses who will get buried in the position instead being buried in the duties required of the position. The leaders needed to fill the vacancies must be individuals   with skills needed to solve problems. They must have the ability to shepherd their followers in order to get things done without necessarily destroying the people who must benefit of the leadership.

We don’t need leaders who chant political party songs and who have theorized their political party ideologies without recourse to the bigger picture of building a progressive nation.  We need leaders who will uphold right or wrong not in reference to their political standings.  We need leaders who do not count the gains that position offers but who have the desire and commitment to sacrifice for the sake of the system. We need leaders who don’t see position as a time to chase out the voices that ask for clarifications but leaders who will embrace different shades of voices and opinions to craft a stronger system.

The shortage in quality leaders is worse than “dumsor” (power outages) that is currently being experienced in Ghana. Our worse enemy as a Country after poverty is leadership. 

The  happenings  around us in politics, corporate organizations ,homes, communities  and even in the churches point to the fact that there is the need to have a  breed of new leaders with the  paradigm of making positive impact and not just being called by the various tittles; boss ,Dr., chief, honorable, etc.

The state of Ghana need leaders who like any economic assets can serve to benefit the system they are leading. Currently the nation as it stands have very few asset “like leaders” with many leaders acting as liabilities to the system. The “liability” like leaders do not generate benefits beyond what is invested in them.

Trumpeting the call of quality leaders at every sector of the economy has been made since time in memorial but what steps are being followed to make sure as a people we have the leaders that we need to ensure national and institutional progress.

In our bid to seek for leaders to feel various positions either through voting or appointment, many people  have been misled by the physical appearance, fluency or the economic networth  of the people they nominate or recommend for leadership position. A leader must take care of his looks but that is not the defining gene that can make the leader effective or not. People asking other people to be their leader must go beyond their looks, heights or colour and rather understand the attributes  that the leader  exhibits ; verbally or non-verbally. It is important for people hiring or searching for quality leaders to note that leadership is not a spontaneous eruption of some special traits. It is an extended part of people that shows up in ordinary situations.

The absence of quality leadership cannot be solved any time soon if a nation or corporate organization does not take emergency steps to grow and groom leaders for the future. We must be intentional in growing leaders. The importance of leadership in our society is so important to leave it to chance.

The leadership ability of people must be groomed

right from their childhoods.  People should be trusted with responsibilities right from the home, school or 

 church as they grow. The positions of class prefect, bell boys, blackboard (I sound old here) cleaner and

  many other leadership opportunities from everyday lives can serve as a means to groom leaders for

corporate Ghana. People must be tested with leadership positions that matches their skills and exposure

before being allowed to handle certain kinds of responsibilities. We must begin to bring “apprentice

concept” in growing leaders.  Growing quality leaders for the nation is not accidental but a well thought-out

process. Let us begin to tackle our shortage for leaders and I am sure it will be the shortest possible route to

transform the Country Ghana and the various institutions we have.