I recently read an article which was originally published by Context Institute. The article states that of the three types of input that every activity needs – material, goods, skills, and time –perhaps the least understood is time. Time is very important because Time not well used cannot be retrieved.

Everyone in this world – all 7 billion, both infants and old people- have 24 hours a day. We have day time and night time and there is a limit to what you can do within the time that you have each day. Some people are able to make the best use of their time whilst others do not.

These days, many people do not have enough time on their hands because they have to attend to multiple activities around the same time and others are also under pressure to save time for themselves and their families. That is why Time management is so important.

I believe that by now almost everybody knows that Ghana generally has a “Time problem”. As a result this country has been described as “Time poor” or a nation that is not time conscious. The total disregard for time is seen in the time people arrive at both public and private functions.

People attend programs late because they claim the programs never start on time. Event organizers also start events late because they also claim the targeted audience never show up on time and they can’t start an event with an empty hall or venue.

NMC boss, Gyan-Apenteng

This chicken and egg situation doesn’t solve any problem. The fact is that there seems to be a total lack of planning on the part of event organizers because nobody plans a big event at the last minute. In the same vein people attend events late because they know they will get there and meet the event not started.

What amazes me about the excuse of people not attending events on time is that when Ghanaians are expecting big stars, religious leaders and international artistes, they get there hours before the event to wait for the program to begin. I recently heard that when Pastor Chris held a concert in Ghana last month, people were seated hours before the service begun. The same scenario was recorded during the last MTN Ghana Stands in Worship concert.

This situation makes it quite confusing because it’s difficult to know whether people deliberately choose to attend events late.

The issue of Time management is very critical and has to be taken seriously. This is because time is an important resource without which a country cannot develop.

This is why the recent Launch of the Dialogue on Time is an important development in the country. I will like to commend the project initiators, Gelis Communications and TLC for thinking that this was good enough to be considered as a national advocacy project. I am closely associated with the organizers and I think it’s a project worth supporting.

It is very significant that the Deputy Minister of Communications, Hon. Ato Sarpong launched it and also committed to attending events on time. Government officials are accused of holding events several hours late and this should not be allowed to continue. 

The involvement of Dr. Nii Moi Thompson as the Chairperson of the occasion was very commendable. This is because for a country that is developing a 40-year development plan, we cannot afford to ignore the importance of time. No country can develop unless its citizens value and respect time.

Again, it is significant to note that the Chairman of the Media Commission, Mr. Kwasi Gyan-Apenteng was also involved in the program.  Mr. Gyan-Apenteng, who was a key note speaker did a good analysis of the topic. Although the cost of lateness has not been computed in Ghana, in the UK the keynote speaker referred to a survey which found that lateness to work costs the UK 9 billion pounds every year. I believe it will cost Ghana more than it costs the UK. If the UK which is known and perceived as a country that respects time lost this amount of money, then I cannot imagine how much lateness is costing Ghana.

The project also received endorsements from the President of Imani Ghana, CEO of the Consumer Protection Agency and the President of the Ghana Journalists Association.

The underlying motive for the Time conference is self-evident; no country can achieve its objectives when almost every event, including routinely scheduled activities, start late. National leaders throughout this nation’s life have spoken against the country’s apparent lack of time consciousness but to no avail. Although this is a critical issue, it had never received any attention at the national level. Gelis Communications and TLC have done a great job and they will need all the support to make the dialogue happen. The Dialogue will put the issue in proper perspective and give people an opportunity to provide workable solutions.

As we wait for the Dialogue to take place, we all have to begin to make a commitment not to allow lateness to draw us back. All event organizers must resolve to start their programs on time. If they do that people will begin to take them seriously.

We wish the organizers of the Time conference – Gelis and TLC - the very best in their efforts in getting the time situation in Ghana improved.