Editorial
Human rights versus religious belief
Dear Editor
The Apostolic Faith Churches of Portland Oregon in Ghana believes one should marry within their churches and would subject all those who do not comply to all sorts of inhumane discipline.
The church would not recognise you as a Christian and would ask you to refrain from doing any ministry work placed in your hands.
If you are a chorister, they would ask you to step down and some of the pastors would even go to the extent of sending some of the children who believe otherwise to psychiatric hospitals for treatment thinking that marrying outside their faith is a mental illness.
This and other practices of the church make it look like a cult. The church, in their ingnorance, believes that anybody who wears ear rings and any woman who wears trousers would not go to heaven.
I find it so disheartening to accept the fact that a church from the US where liberty is highly stressed practises such belief. Why is the Supreme Court of the United States silent about this matter? Why has SCOTUS allowed a church from the US to practise this thing in any part of the world?
Ebenezer K N Baiden-Amissah
P. O. BOX GP 801, Accra.
0245310380
Editorial
Ensure provision of adequate first aid at schools
Dear Editor,
First aid is defined as the immediate care given to an injured or suddenly ill person, aiming to preserve life, prevent further harm, and promote recovery until professional medical help arrives.
It is also considered as an essential element at every organisation and institution during emergency situations. In Ghana, first aid is also considered a legal requirement, emphasising the need for adequate supplies and trained personnel to handle emergencies.
Additionally, schools in Ghana are expected to have first aid boxes and individuals trained in first aid to address injuries and illness that may occur.
However, there have been a number of reported cases of lack of first aid kits, including first aid boxes, in some educational institutions in the country.
As a concerned citizen, I find such reports very disturbing because the lack of first aid kits at our education institutions could lead to loss of lives.
At schools, especially at the basic level, it is easy for injuries to be recorded due to the playful nature of pupils, where they are often seen running up and down and engaging in some physical activities.
It is for this reason that education institutions in the country need to take the provision of first aid kits and facilities seriously.
The various stakeholders, including the Ministry of Education and the Ghana Education Service, need to put in measures to ensure that education institutions adhere to this directive.
Fred, Dansoman
Editorial
Introduce comprehensive sex education in schools
Dear Editor
I write to express concern about the alarming rise in cases of teenage pregnancy in our communities and to advocate an urgent introduction of comprehensive sex education in our schools.
It is no longer enough to ask our children to abstain from sex without equipping them with the knowledge to make informed decisions.
In a world where information is readily available often unfiltered and misleading, young people must be guided with factual, age-appropriate, and culturally sensitive education on reproductive health.
Many teenagers become victims of early pregnancy not out of rebellion, but due to ignorance. They are unaware of how their bodies work, how to protect themselves, or even the consequences of unprotected sex.
This lack of knowledge often leads to school dropouts, unsafe abortions, and a cycle of poverty especially among girls.
Comprehensive sex education does not encourage promiscuity, as some fear, rather, it empowers children to make responsible choices.
It helps them understand consent, personal boundaries, and the importance of self-respect.
Parents, teachers, religious leaders, and policymakers must all come together to ensure that our youth are protected not only through moral instruction but with practical knowledge that safeguards their futures.
If we are serious about ending teenage pregnancy, then let us be bold enough to teach our children the truth early and consistently.
Emmanuel Mensah, Cape Coast
