I also think it is the low salaries that affect worker morale !!! People complain about work in America but here you quickly see the fruit of your labor . Your house , your car , furniture , appliances ,plenty of food, vacations , even things like been able to go out to eat with co workers at a nice restaurant !! For the average worker in Africa everything they want is so far out of their reach, that they just don't see the point of putting in any effort on the job . Employers in Africa treat workers very badly and sometime will not pay them the agreed on amount .There is a lot of resentment, which leads to sabotage by doing shoddy work !!!!
Yes, employee pay and benefits impact morale and productivity and it is true that generally Ghanaian workers aren't paid well. But there are many cases where workers do steal and sabotage a business regardless of the amount of money and incentives they receive. I have experienced this myself severally, and know others who have. Start a business and entrust it to a Ghanaian and see what happens, if you don't believe me. If you live outside the country, don't even think about it! Absent ownership doesn't work in Ghana, no matter how gracious and kind you are to your stewards. The greed, dishonesty and shortsightedness is, sadly, on a different level.
You quickly see the fruits of your labor because everything is financed...you just need a job or co-sign to obtain everything..which is not good because the system keeps you in the system..Welcome to Hotel California
GHANAIAN WORKERS WILL PUT IN A 100 PERCENT IF IT IS A WHITE MAN OR A CHINESE MAN BUSINES. BUT IF THE BUSINESS OWNER IS A GHANAIAN, THE GHANAIAN WORKER WONT PUT IN A 100 PERCNT BECAUSE OF JEALOUSY, ENVY AND GREED.
Selecting the right person for business is equal to selecting the right lover!! It is the same conundrum across the world. Selecting partners is a hard work that most of us fail to fully get right!! What's more, your hard work may not even bear fruit!! Excitement tend to blind us. I don't think people who fail us are the issue. The issue is mainly about learning and developing skill in selecting partners. That's not only a hard work, it's a nightmare.
Rush, everything you are saying is the truth and you have nothing to apologize for. An employee I trusted, and supported in so many ways, has stolen the equivalent of $9K from me to buy a car. I've had him arrested and the usual pleas are pouring in from his family. I've experienced this many times with different workers over the years and this time, I'm determined to let the law run its course. From hereon, if you steal from me, even a pesewa, you will be in handcuffs! Enough of the dishonesty, greed, ingratitude and criminality!
It’s so painful to see that foreigners are doing well with expanding businesses in our country Ghana but not many Ghanaians can do the same. There needs to be a mindset shift but it’s gonna take a miracle! Thanks for the great content as always 🙌🏾
Not one lie told here. Much respect to my brother Rush always fair and impartial. I encourage anyone coming from the diaspora to seek out Rush and his team to sort you out. You will be in great hands.
I've never owned a business or employed people before but I would image that the problems that you experience exist here in the states as well. Employees that are not paid well are not as motivated to work to the best of their ability and are simply there for the paycheck. Companies deal with quick turnovers a lot. In the area that I live in, which is not the most affluent, good customer service is lacking and I would not trust anyone to not steal from me. The difference is that I could have law enforcement involved if needed. it's just sad all around.
no it is not the same. People don't rob people on the job like Ghana. They can go to jail. Nothing happens to the Ghanaian. If you pay a Ghanaian perfect, It does no matter. They want everything from you. It can be dangerous. Many of them think that stealing is doing good business.
Very informative and honest review of Ghana business scene. I’m with you on everything you said as we’ve faced the same issues whilst there. Biggest problems have been workers.
You are really speaking truth my husband and I have a 50 acre farm the days my husband goes to the farm. They literally do two times the amount of work that they do when he’s not there.
Ghana Éducation does not prepare youth, who becomes Adults. Critical thinking and Life skills. I believe Politics and Colonialism have dumb down the mindset of the people. You have to get young people coming up. Example young boys, go into the schools, with the youth. Also the Universities. Find someone with Street smarts to deal with brothers from the Streets. Comes down to REAL RAW Communication and relationships. All these recommendations are People Investments…. Be Blessed. UBUNTU…
Thank you so much for your honesty about Africa.....it's rare to see this kind of honesty!!! Many of us African Americans here in the US are interested in moving to Africa, building homes and businesses but what you describe is exactly what scares us. Unpaved roads, lack of good quality healthcare and non existent infrastructure. Then moving there and not knowing who we can trust!
Thank God Im jamaican ..I can handle My Ghana people ....what is healthcare but a fraud ,,,eat good stop eating foolishness these gmos and pumped up with anti biotic meat ,,, use food and herbs to heal ur body ...you people need to wake up ...stay where u are maam u americans are little too much ...stay where u are
And that's exactly the problem!!! It gives me as an American more opportunity..... while the African people end up suffering with higher prices because we are moving there. I've seen it happen many times in places like Hawaii. Americans moved there, stole their land and Hawaii was made a part of the UNITED STATES. Now native Hawaiians cannot afford to live in their own country and they have a huge homeless problem. And I hear that us moving to Ghana, specifically Accra is not causing the same problems.....Accra is gentrifying because of us moving there and the native Ghanians are suffering. If I ever do business in Africa the last thing that I want to do is enjoy opportunities while causing native people to suffer. Too many of us are moving there just to make $$ off of Africa and not giving anything back to Africa!!!!
Trust is good but systems are better. You have to build a good system if you are not in Ghana to run a business. Otherwise, I will say keep your money.
my family background is middle eastern and all these issues are faniliar to us. It is a developing country and its sad but mentalities take time to change. Always watch your paperwork, make sure you stay professional otherwise workers feel too comfortable to steal from you. Also pay a good wage, pay taxes and most importantly reinvest some profits into the community. Governments in developing countries are notoriously corrupt so its the duty of any foreign investor to help the average people where they can. I invested in a few countries and every time put 10% of profit into local causes.
If we are going to learn to be honest as employees unemployment will reduce. What I mean is, there a lot of people around with cash sitting idle where they will love to enter entrepreneurship but they fear they will be duped from the experience of colleagues or family members. So they will let the cash lie without doing anything. But if we have all these people opening businesses it will help the system. Most government workers have money lying down idle.
THE WORKERS WILL SELL THEMSELVES AS EXPECTS UNTIL YOU GIVE THEM THE JOB AND THEY MESS IT UP THEN YOU KNOW THAT THEY DONT KNOW WHAT THEY ARE DOING. EG BUILDING ARTISANS
My hair started greying soon as I started my project in Ghana. Although the builder claims he told his artisans what to do, they still messed up. They blocked my bathroom door, created a balcony etc which isn't part of the design. So I have come to noticed that you need to be there on site to monitor them 247, but these builders have so many projects going at the same time so it's hard for them to go around every day. Now I don't give contracts to those who don't have the time to monitor.
I agree with your statement. I pay my workers well. However, don’t you think one has more to lose if the person is on the job and they are just there showing poor work ethic? You won’t get lucky by being acknowledged for a better position. You’re there anyways, wasting your time, so you might as well use it to work your butt off. If not, just quit.
