Prez Mahama's Remarks About "Smart Businesses" Was Inappropriate... - Kweku Baako

Abdul Malik Kweku Baako, Editor-in-Chief of the New Crusading Guide, says President John Mahama's recent remarks about businesses laying off their workers was "inappropriate" and not a true reflection of the President's personality. May Day which happens to worker's day saw the President in attendance and delivering a speech on the effects of the energy crisis to the gathered workers at the Independence Square in Accra. President Mahama is reported to have said "smart business operators" were not laying off workers but rather making efforts to improve productivity. The President's comments have since been sandwich by criticisms from the political divide with the opposition New Patriotic Party questioning President Mahama's sensitivity to the plight of local businesses. Contributing to a panel discussion on Peace FM's "Morning Show", Kweku Baako pointed out that those businesses which have been compelled to lay off workers did so in the interest of the business. According to him, due to the power crises that have become a major threat to businesses in the nation, it was rather a "tactful and tactical" action that the businesses have undertaken in order to survive. To him, those businesses which have laid off workers seems to have run out of options because the current economic situation has affected operations. “Those that are laying off workers are being compelled to do so due to the reality of the economic crises especially with the energy crunch. That’s why if you’re not careful and you make an absolute or if you overrate the point that some smart and perceptible companies are not laying off; it ignores the harsh reality out there.  “The harsh reality out there being that indeed it’s due to the energy crises that those businesses, apparently not smart but in my view smart are laying off workers because it’s survival. It’s a question of survival of their business at least for a period. It’s a tactful and tactical action,” he said. Kweku Baako was therefore unenthused with the President's use of "inappropriate" language on local business operators. “That communication was a bit inappropriate because it is subject to all sorts of interpretations. It’s subject to even misrepresentation," he said.

Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline/Ghana, email address: ameyawpeacefmonline@gmail.com