Gaining through the Brain Drain

A little over a decade past, attracted by the inspiring words of a popular Methodist hymn, I decided to take a quick glance through the Apocrypha. It was during such a time that I discovered that the saying, “Travel and see” was boldly written therein. Today’s society often see the idea of travelling as an issue that leads to a drain on one’s financial and human resources. But the very pertinent question is this; Could we gain through that drain?

If properly planned for, we can substantially gain good lessons as a result of much travelling. An overflow of travelling chances could be very useful as well as advantageous in terms of the wealth of experience an individual would acquire having made good use of such moments.

Presently there are so much complaints of congestion on our roads as far as the Capital City of Ghana, Accra, is concerned. Often there is congestion at our hospitals too and the case is similar at most public places. Our nation hitherto has been thinking about how to encourage its people about settling at less populated places, villages and towns in this country.

Organisational establishments could also serve as a catalyst in aiding this process by granting holiday benefits to their staff during their annual leave periods. The rationale behind this should be that of facilitating an easier means for various members of staff to travel outside the towns where they reside to spend their leave periods in unfamiliar regions of this country.

Someone have also said that our hospitals must not only be upgraded as concerns the existing infrastructure and amenities but should also be expanded in terms of their number. A blessed country like Ghana could be thinking of erecting an ultra-modern hospital facility pretty close to the hub of the nation at a location like Brekosuo (along the Accra-Aburi road), or possibly at an attractive position along the Accra-Nsawam road. This project, if need be, would carry the prime objective of providing expert services to diplomats both foreign and national, to the prominent people –VIPs- within this country whilst at the same time caring for the health needs of the townsfolk. Patients with less severe ill-health cases could obtain referral letters to such an institution.

The benefits of this design would be innumerable and does not exclude lessening the burden on the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital and the 37 Military Hospital, attracting the country’s citizens in the urban areas to move and settle in any of these areas, combined with banking and financial institutions setting up offices there to boost business activities.

It is a rather unfortunate thing that most influential people here with us in our society this very hour allow the thought of placing blockades of discouragement in the paths of people with expert knowledge travelling beyond our dear nation to indwell their minds. They mostly call this idea “Brian Drain” and would without hesitation cite the health profession as an instance.

The expression “Brain Drain” should not be heard of or mentioned as far as Ghana in particular and Africa in general are concerned. It is true that the country spends so much in training few medical professionals and is eager to earn adequate proceeds from this venture.

Never should we feel perplexed or extremely worried when having trained experts in one profession or another these people with expertise decide to travel outside our country to elsewhere with the good intention of working there to gain success or experience.

We must endeavour to make maximum use of all experts we have with us currently and should go beyond this target to train and equip many more people who are yearning to learn to obtain reputable accreditation in a particular discipline or another. Have we ever wondered if it were feasibly possible to run a night shift in training medical students since some hospitals do work throughout the night?

Next, our educational system should be enhanced enough to attract many foreigners to come into our country to study and achieve international status of recognition should they plan to work after their studies in this nation or in any other nation. Then, we must build in the hearts of the present youth and young ones of this country a strong never-dying love for Ghana to such an extent that whether they go out of this country for further studies or to work, they would always be thinking of their possible return and how they could express their gratitude to their motherland.

There is wisdom in doing good and in showing kindness to human beings. Let us thus continue to assist our people in any way we could.

By Ebenezer K N Baiden-Amissah

P O Box LG 1254 Legon Accra Ghana