Ace journalist and managing editor of the Insight newspaper, Kwesi Pratt Junior says reopening of schools doesn’t make sense.
According to Mr. Pratt, clinging to the safety protocols will be difficult looking at the number of students assigned to each teacher. He indicated that in some schools the number of students have inflated therefore making it difficult for teachers to oversee the adherence of the safety protocols.
Speaking on Pan African TV show Alhaji and Alhaji he noted “Now we know that in some of the schools the numbers are ballooning. You know that in some of the schools, there is one teacher to a hundred students or hundred pupils. How can these teachers effectively supervise the adherence to the protocols? They can’t”.
He indicated that, this is the reason why schools should remain closed. He believes the reopening of schools doesn’t make sense.
“That is the reason why we shouldn’t open schools now. Opening schools now doesn’t make sense. There is no sense in opening the schools”. He stated.
Explaining further, he made mention of the fact that some nonpareil schools have to close down because of an outbreak, to the extent that some teacher have tested positive to the corona virus and one of them have lost his life.
“The management of the schools itself have to close down the school because of an outbreak of covid 19. Some of the teachers have been infected. One teacher has died. Somebody from the management has died as a result of the spread of covid 19”.
The President in one of his recent nations address reopened schools which had a lot of Ghanaians talking because they believe schools should remain closed due to the pandemic.
There is a saying that goes like “Black men with black mentality”. For once I have to admit this is not a mere say and growing up I got to know there is more to this saying. The truth of the matter is that the black people are responsible for creating their own problems.
We do things that beats our own imagination. The picture above was taken yesterday in Osu just in front of the Osu Children Library. The heap of sand and gravels have been there for a week now and nothing has been done about it. The most interesting part of it all is that there is a police station not far from the area and a lot of the officers use this same road.
I bare witness to the fact that several police officers have been using this road everyday and non of the them for once, even bothered to make enquiry as to why there is a heap of sand and gravels in the middle of a major road.
The only time we tend to find a panacea to issues like this is when there is an accident and people lose their lives. Just like we do with corruption in this country, instead of preventing it we allow it to take place and then try to find solutions. The country we live in.
These are the things drawing us back as a country and until we change our minds and mentality, we cannot move forward as a country. Every issue no matter how minor it is should be given the needed attention in order to prevent it from growing to become a major issue. We tend to ignore issues like this because we believe they pose as a minor threat to our lives until is too late.
If we want to build a better Ghana, we need to start by addressing these minor issues first because in the long run they tend to become the major issues that hinder our progress tomorrow. We can achieve our goals collectively that is the more reason why we need to share the same concerns on issues like this. We need to treat issues like this with urgency.
While taking pictures and videos on the street, I realized a lot of people were staring at me. After taking the pictures and videos, some of them approached me and surprisedly they all asked the same question, what I was going to do with the videos and pictures. I responded by saying I’m going to write an article with the pictures and videos. It was at that moment I realized almost all the people share the same concern and yet non of them was bold enough to voice it out.
I assured them I will do my very best to make sure something is done about it. It’s been a week now and nothing has been done about it, the police personnel who are responsible for our safety on the road use the same road when patrolling in the night and yet, they see nothing wrong with the fact that the heap of sand and gravel is placed right in the middle of the road.
As a country one of our major setbacks is ignorance and until we learn to deal with it we can never achieve our objectives. The truth is, we create our own problem and instead of finding lasting solutions we find excuses to cover them up. If those responsible for protecting our roads and ensuring our safety on these roads are finding excuses not to perform their duties, we as citizens have the obligation to see to it that our safety is ensured and we can only do that by putting our heads together as one people.
Sometimes the perception that we are not responsible for this or that has sent us to the level we find ourselves as a country. Let’s do well to collectively perform our duties as citizens for our own safety and shouldn’t wait for those we believe are responsible for doing them to do it for us. Ghana is our only home and nobody can make it better other than ourselves.
Those responsible for our safety and security will always find excuses it is left with us as individuals to work together to achieve a common goal. Going forward we should start paying more attention to the minor issues in this country and try to find lasting panacea to these issues.
Let’s start now. It is our civic duty to ensure our own safety.
Below is a video of the heap of sand and gravels in the middle of the road
The writer is a Freelance Journalist, A Columnist and a Student of the Ghana Institute of Journalism.
Former Ghana Special Prosecutor, Mr. Martin Alamisi Benz-Kaiser Amidu says the President should be hold responsible if anything happens to him.
The Former Special Prosecutor resigned from office amid allegations that the President was interfering in his investigation with regards to the Agyapa deal.
According to Mr. Martin Amidu, there has been threat on his life since he made it known to the public what inspired his resignation and that if anything happens to him the President will be responsible.
Speaking in an interview on Accra Based Television he said “All these threats about burgling me, arm robbery, burning my house, am aware. I put my life on the Republic of Ghana and the President will be responsible for anything that happens to me”.
He indicated that, he knows the people involved in those threats and that he can named them but he will withhold them for the time being. He also made mention of the the fact that he was able to reach out to a Former National Security adviser, after several calls made to reach the Minister for National Security, Honorable Albert Kan Dapaah was unsuccessful.
“I tried to call Kan Dapaah he didn’t pick it. And I got a former national security adviser, to contact him and tell him. And I know the persons involved, I can named them. I will reserve it for the mean time”.
According to the Former Special Prosecutor, dying in the fight against corruption is something he started with the late President Jerry John Rawlings and as such he fears nothing and that these threats will never allow him to stop fighting against corruption.
“I’m a Ghanaian. I don’t fear anything. To die in the cause of fighting corruption is what I started with the President Jerry Rawlings since 31st December 1981, and I’m not going to leave it because some people think that they can threaten me”.
He also emphasized on the fact that the President has the constitutional responsibility to protect him and as such he does not need any security around him and that anyone who will try it will be regrettable about it.
“The President has a constitutional duty to protect me. I don’t need any security at my house, or to follow me. And anybody who makes an attempt will have himself to blame”.
The resignation of Mr. Martin Amidu was shockingly received by many politicians and Ghanaians alike. The office of the President recently responded to the claims that the President was interfering in his investigation. The response clearly denied all claims leveled against the President.
There is a proverb that goes like “what’s sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander”. I remember Clearly in 2016 when the then President of Ghana His Excellence John Dramani Mahama was touring the regions with a campaign message that the people of Ghana should give him a second tenure in office. The campaign message was simple, vote for me again based on my developmental projects.
It could be recalled that the New Patriotic Party at the time in opposition made mockery of John Mahama campaign message with some of the “Big Men” in the party making claims that the ordinary Ghanaian do not need infrastructure to develop or grow the economy.
“Would Ghanaians eat infrastructure?” Said one of the “Big Men” in the Party. This statement made it quite clear that it is obvious the NPP acknowledged the fact that the Mahama administration made massive progress in terms of infrastructure just that they don’t buy the idea that it is enough for the development of the economy.
According to the Opposition, Ghana needs more than infrastructures to develop and grow as a country. Their campaign message was about Free Senior High School, Growing the Ghanaian economy with double figures , Massive reduction in borrowing from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Planting for food and jobs and the rest. The New Patriotic Party through it campaign message were given power by the people of Ghana.
Shocking three and half years down the line and we are hear again. Is an election year and the various parties are putting measures in place to campaign for power. Surprisedly the NPP when in opposition made mockery of the fact that infrastructure can do little in the growth of the economy are now campaigning with the same message of infrastructure. Telling Ghanaians the number of development projects they have put in place since they took over from the NDC. This should tell you the ordinary Ghanaian the kind of game these politicians are playing with our minds.
The President stated clearly that this year’s election is all about track records. In short vote for the NPP or NDC based on their developmental projects (Infrastructure). Replying to the statement made by the President, John Mahama decided to throw a challenge to the President by stating that the two of them should have a national debate on Infrastructure. A debate which in my opinion is very important to our political discourse as a country. This debate if held will give Ghanaians the opportunity to access the performances of the two administration and based on that they can make their final decision as to who to vote for in this year’s election.
Shockley the NPP who claim to have the “Big Men” who are known to be great Squabblers and are maladaptive in nature decided against the debate thrown to them by the Ex President. They surprisingly stated that debating the Ex President in terms of who has the best records with regards to infrastructure is not part of their campaign.
This left me wondering isn’t this the NPP that claim to stand for democracy ? This is an opportunity to prove it. Isn’t this an opportunity for the NPP to prove to Ghanaians that they have done more than enough in terms of infrastructure looking at the fact that they have already published the number of projects carried out under their administration. This debate gives
them the opportunity to prove with evidence the project they have already published. This debate gives them the opportunity to show Ghanaians the pitfalls in the Mahama administration in terms of infrastructure. This debate will give Ghanaians and other countries the opportunity to witness for the first time in our history two dominant parties locks horns on who has the best records in terms of infrastructure.
This, I believe will go along way to promote our democracy and give meaning to the fact that democracy is really for the people. The debate of politics of infrastructure will help to seal our place as one of the finest country that understands politics and democracy. I think the media should do well to push for this debate before the election is held on the 7th of December. The United State had a Presidential debate which gave meaning to democracy and I believe we should do same. My message is simple the President should accept the challenge and let democracy speak.
The Writer is a freelance journalist, a Columnist and a student of the Ghana Institute of Journalism.
Former President and Flagbearer for the National Democratic Congress (NDC) John Dramani Mahama has called for a one-on-one Presidential debate with President Akuffo Addo for the second time.
In a post published on his Instagram page he indicated that the Civil Society should do well to push for a Presidential debate between himself and President Akuffo Addo on the their respective administration and future projects.
“I urge you all, including civil society, to invite the President for a one-on-one debate on our stewardship and our programmes for the future”.
He expressed gratitude to the Center for Social Justice (CSJ) for giving him the possibility to interconnect and speak on the NDC /John Mahama Strategies and social contracts with the people of Ghana.
“I thank you Center for Social Justice for the platform and opportunity to interact and speak to the NDC/ John Mahama Policies And Social Contracts to the people of Ghana”.
The Center For Social Justice (CSJ) is known for its objective, with regards to holding government and public institutions accountable to the highest standard of good governance practices through a system view.
This is the second time the former President, John Dramani Mahama has called for a one-on-one presidential debate with President Akuffo Addo after his earlier call for an infrastructure debate was brushed aside by the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the President himself.
President of Nigeria, Mohammed Buhari says international organizations and concerned neighboring countries should seek for available facts before taking a position on the matter.
In a post published on his Twitter page, he indicated that international bodies and concerned countries should do well to look for available information before taking a stand.
He also thanked all international bodies and countries who have shared genuine concerns about the ongoing violence in the country.
Bellow is the picture and the detailed information about his tweet.
Mohammed Buhari is yet to officially address the people of Nigeria and the world with regards to the ongoing killings and violence recorded in the country.
President of the Republic, Nana Akuffo Addo has indicated that the processes leading to the rectification of the ongoingviolence in Nigeria has begun.
In a post published on his Instagram page he stated that President Buhari has assured him on how committed he is in resolving the current violence going on in the country and that measures have been put in place for the betterment of the country.
“I have spoken to President Buhari, who is committed to this end, and has begun the processes that will lead to reform”.
According to President Akuffo Addo, violence is not the solution to the ongoing uproar but the use of peaceful communication is the only way to resolve these violence.
“Violence, be it on the Police or protesters, cannot be the solution”. I join all well-meaning persons in calling for calm, and the use of dialogue in resolving the #EndSARS impasse in Nigeria”.
He expressed sympathy to families who lost their loved ones in the violence and to those who were injured a fast recovery.
“To the families who have lost their loved ones, I expressed my sincere condolences and I wish those who were injured speedy recovery”.
Nigeria is in crisis. A lot of people have been killed as the youth are protesting against police brutality and an end to the Speacial Anti-Corruption Squad (SARS). President Buhari is yet to officially address the country with regards to the ongoing killings and violence recorded in the country.
Vice President of the republic Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia has laud President Akuffo Addo as a compassionate leader
In a post published on the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) Instagram page he said “ President Akufo-Addo is a compassionate leader”.
With regards to the Free Senior High School (SHS) policy, he indicated that the brain behind the policy was to make sure every child gets access to secondary cycle education irrespective of the economic circumstances of their parents.
“The Free SHS policy was meant to build an educated population by giving all children from every part of the country regardless of the social and economic status of their parents, free access to secondary education”.
The Free SHS policy was introduced by the Akufo-Addo government which seeks to provide free secondary education to children all over the country. The Vice President made this post with regards to the impact of the policy.
Communication Director for the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Sammy Gyamfi says no administration has invested more in health infrastructure than the NDC.
According to the Lawyer, no government under the fourth republic has infused more in health infrastructure than the National Democratic Congress.
In an interview on GHOne’s ElectionHub he said “I’m not sure that in the history of this fourth republic we’ve had any administration that has invested in health infrastructure than the NDC Mahama government between 2013 to 2016”.
He indicated that a lot were infused in health during the first term of Former President John Mahama. With a lot of heath facilities and hospital built at that time.
“In the first term of President Mahama, we invested a lot in heath. We built a lot of hospitals and health facilities across the length and breadth of Ghana”. He said.
He made mention of several hospitals and health facilities which the Mahama administration infused in and was built under that administration.
“We saw about thirteen district hospitals springing up, we saw about twenty two poly clinics, we saw regional hospitals like the Greater Accra Regional Hospital which is just a stone thrown away from here, we saw the Upper West Regional Hospital, we saw the rehabilitation of the Upper East Regional Hospital, the University of Ghana Medical Center which is a quaternary healthy facility and a host of health projects scattered across the length and breadth of this country. We did all that”. He stated.
The National Democratic Congress have argued that in terms of infrastructure non can be compared to their achievements because they have the best track records and health infrastructure is no exception
Member of Parliament for Ningo-Prampram Honorable Samuel George Nartey believes Members of Parliament are deemed not worthy of protection.
According to Sam George , the ten leaders of parliament and the Speaker are the only people with police protection the remaining two hundred and sixty five MP’s are without protection which clearly shows that MP’s are considered unfit of police protection.
In an interview on Citi Tv he said “When it comes to Parliament, only Mr. Speaker and the ten leaders of parliament, the majority leader, the deputy majority leader, the majority chief whip and his two deputies, the minority leader and his deputy, the minority chief whip and his two deputies. Only those ten MP’s and Mr. Speaker are given police protection”.
He indicated that the remaining two hundred and sixty five MP’s are viewed as unworthy of protection.
“The remaining two hundred and sixty five members of parliament are deemed not to be worthy of protection”.
He stated further that with regards to security protection, little is given to the Legislature which represents the people of Ghana as compared to the Judiciary.
“The Judiciary is given ample security protection. But when it comes to the legislature, which is the only arm of government that is the representation of the people Ghana, the people who pay the judges, the people who pay the executive, when it comes to parliament it’s only Mr. Speaker and the ten leaders of parliament”.
The Protection of MP’s has been a major issue with the recent death of Honorable Ekow Quansah Hayford, Member of Parliament for Mfantseman Consistency who was shot dead on Friday when he was returning from a campaign trip on the Mankessim road.
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