Title: Will Mahama’s ‘Big Push’ Be the Big Deal? I’m Still Chewing On It.
A few years ago, I sat in this rickety taxi in Accra, arguing with the driver about oil money. The man swore up and down that our oil cash was sitting in someone’s pocket, buying plush houses in Dubai. I remember laughing it off but, deep down, I wondered — was he wrong?
So when I saw President Mahama assuring the Public Interest and Accountability Committee (PIAC) that oil funds will be “efficiently used” for his grand ‘Big Push’ agenda, I couldn’t help but perk up. I mean, we’ve heard promises before. And not just in fancy press releases — in those big conference halls with all the ‘honourables’ nodding like they already believe.
Mahama says the oil cash will fund roads, schools, hospitals — the whole development buffet. Honestly, I wasn’t sure if this ‘Big Push’ would be any different from the ‘Big Talk’ we’ve gotten used to. But, in my opinion (and hey, I could be wrong), there’s something oddly refreshing about how he’s putting it front and centre. At least he’s saying, “Hey, hold me accountable.”
Here’s the thing though — efficient use of oil funds is one of those promises that sounds good on a billboard. Like that “Your future is bright” slogan we used to see on every street pole. But we all know how those went. You pass by the same pole years later — the streetlight’s busted, the billboard’s torn, and your trotro fare’s doubled.
Still, I guess we can’t afford to be totally cynical. Oil money can actually transform lives if it’s handled right. I’ve noticed that when politicians feel watched, they’re more careful. Like how we behave when we know our mum’s about to check our phone history (don’t pretend you’ve never). That’s why I think PIAC — the watchdog committee — actually matters here. If they don’t let things slide, maybe we’ll finally see new roads that don’t turn into swimming pools every rainy season.
But, will they bite? Or just bark for the cameras? That’s the part that keeps nagging at me while I sip my late-night coffee and doom-scroll through political headlines.
I may be overly optimistic, but maybe — just maybe — this ‘Big Push’ will be the push that proves we can do big things with our own money.
I’ll keep my taxi driver friend in mind when I see the next oil cash update. He’ll probably say it’s all lies again. And maybe he’s got a point — but maybe, this time, we can prove him wrong.
What do you think? Are we finally ready to spend our oil riches on us… or will we be having the same taxi argument five years from now?