It is a clear fact that most Ghanaians are becoming less fruitful as the days go by. The level of energy and enthusiasm that majority of people embrace their work with has diminished drastically over the years. When citizens of a country become less productive, it has negative implications on the country, especially on the economy.
One factor that has contributed to the decline of productivity in our country can be attributed to televisions that are placed in offices. In one way or the other, television provides entertainment. It makes work enjoyable and adds meaning to the pleasures f life.
What has become the order of the day in our 21st century Ghana is televisions having been placed in every office and shop… When I check in to a barbering shop that is full of people, what I use to entertain myself whilst in the long queue is the television. In this case, the barber is using the television to keep hold of customers who might feel bored whilst sitting down idle. Same can be said at other places where people have to wait for several minutes or hours in queues.
However, it becomes meaningless when same television that others use to entertain customers is placed in offices where customers are not needed. The case worsens when telenovelas are being broadcasted during working hours.
I wouldn’t delve much into this because the way programs are segmented on both television and radio in Ghana are horrible. Programs with great appeal and viewership like telenovelas ought not to be broadcasted during the working hours.
I have had several encounters with a lot of people who failed to go about their day to day activities which they are getting paid for, all because of divided attention. Such ones seem to be much concerned about the programs on TV than what will put money into their pockets.
Receptionists can be linked to this menace easily. Televisions are placed at receptions to keep visitors entertained whilst they wait for whatever they are in for. Instead of paying attention to their work, many receptionists that I have come across tend to pay attention to the television meant for the visitors, especially when it’s time for a popular telenovela.
They seem unconcerned when a visitor checks in at the office or reception, all because they are watching a television program. As if someone is running after them, such ones, in a hasty mood, attend to whoever walks in at the reception without having time for the person. With such attitude, how can a person like this become productive in his/her line of work?
Another factor to consider is the use of social media whilst working. In the technological and advanced world that we all find ourselves in, the advantages of social media cannot be undermined. Most people, if not all, use social media to connect with friends who are either living close or far away.
It has become a norm today for everyone to sign up on social media platforms. If you are not on one, then the name that will be given to you won’t be anything different from a cave man or woman. Connecting with friends has become much easier than before. What more do you need again when you can WhatsApp a ‘Kayayo’ to meet you at the market and carry your loads home for you, or send a tweet to the area shoe-maker to come over and polish your shoes for you.
However, the use of social media platforms like Facebook, WhatsApp, Twitter, Viber, Tango, and others are being misused at work places. The time meant for work (which an employer is paying an employee for) is now used for chatting on social media platforms.
A friend of mine once took his daughter to the hospital one evening. Upon reaching the hospital, the unexpected was witnessed. The nurse (national service personnel), as well as the record keeper, instead of attending to them were ‘whatsapping’ and laughing on top of their voices, as if no patient was present at the hospital. When my friend approached the nurse, she turned a deaf ear to his complaint. They had no option than to leave the place and check in at a different hospital. The incident was later reported to the head of the hospital, where the nurse was penalized and asked to apologise.
This is just one example out of the many out there. Workers pay much attention to their phones, rather than their work. The amount of time they spend with their phone to whatsapp, facebook, and tweet while at work is far from acceptable. These are the same people who complain of bad economy, yet they do not realise how their activities add up to the mess.
It’s time for some measures to be put in place to cut down this growing canker. If not, the level of productivity in our country will continue to dwindle, and we will forever be an under-developed country.
This is so true. My friend works at the Ministries in Ghana and the first thing she probably does is to login facebook when she gets to work. From 9am to 5pm she is shown as active on facebook and we chat a lot. Even when I am in town, we chat on whatssap and all these while she is at work.
These are some of the things affecting the country and the economy. A lot has to change about Ghanaians when it comes to work. Good post GC
its because there is no work at the ministry she works at.the government has the responsiblity to cut jobs but they are afraid of loosin vote.
Really no work there? But if you go to most offices they have TV in there and when it is football, forget it, everyone will be watching some. Also, every girl in the office is always busy instagraming or facebooking.
How is the country or company going to get better with such attitude?
When it comes to work, there are loads of work that ought to be done. The problem is not about cutting down jobs. Even if the government decides to cut down jobs, how is this problem going to be solved?
Who supervises the activities of these workers to ensure work is done right? Unlike private companies where owners are quite strict on workers to carry out their day to day activities, the public sector is not like that.
The “It’s not my father’s job” attitude dominates the creative thinking of almost all workers in the public sector. Do the work as shoddy as you like, nobody will bother to question you because government is nobody’s father.
What ought to be done is to do away with all those television sets (distractions) in offices. Some have even subscribed to DSTV channels at the workplace. Like seriously? Are they employed to increase productivity or live a comforting life at the office?
Also, access to social networking sites like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and the rest ought to be blocked on office computers.
Now, the only difficulty will be how to disconnect workers from their phones whilst at work, since they can browse with their phones. In view of the fact that they are getting paid for the time spent at work, access to their phones can be cut off. They have the whole time to do whatever they want to do with their phones when they close from work.
If drastic measures like these are not enforced, then I am afraid to say the country has no future in terms of production.
i will recommend u to the president..nice piece!
You know anytime i login here to read your comments just makes me laugh lol Is nothing but the truth. Ghanaians likes to take things for granted, Government officials are just careless for my liking. Some pot belly manager will come to work at 9am and leave around 2pm just to chase little girls, without completing his task. So lets imagine who would supervise the employees at work? No one right and after the pot belly man leaves facebook, twitter, instagram would be their assignment for the day. Some will walk straight to the restroom mirrors to take photos and uploads.