Ghanaians love cars! In biblical times, as we are told, a man’s wealth was measured by how many herds of cattle he had. In ancient Ghana a man’s wealth was probably measured in wives and children, beads, gold jewelry, and kente clothes.
In modern Ghana, dare I say, a man’s wealth is measured by the car(s) he drives. The more expensive, the better – of the SUV or German engineered variety!
Whoever said a car is a bad investment never talked to Ghanaians. Most people see an instant and recognizable gain in social net-worth after buying a new expensive car in Ghana.
If you don’t believe me how else would you explain the following?
- Ghanaian MPs (members of parliament) make about $2,000 per month or $24,000 a year but each of them drives a $50,000 SUV. Yes all 200 and something of them.
- The rush to secure government vehicles when there is a change in the political party governing the country. Forgetting the billions of worth of contracts signed in the final days of the previous administration that amount to a massive looting of the treasury that we eventually sell our collective souls overseas to repay.
- Ghana is one of the top destinations in the world for stolen vehicles, mainly luxury vehicles from the US, Canada and Europe.
- Chances are you can get millions of dollars in business by delivering a brand new Mercedes Benz S Class worth about $100,000 to a politician.
- Chances are you can give a local chief a car worth about $50,000 plus $20,000 cash for about $100,000 worth of land.
Why?
Not just people in laces of power oooo. You'll find a young professional earning Ghc 1000-GHC 5000 a month driving a care that is worth several times over his monthly salary n cost, upkeep and fuel alone. That and flashy houses. SMH.
ReplyDeleteVery interesting stats,The middle class now days are the leading group interms of owning cars .
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