Editorial
Advice to National Service Personnel
Service to the country
Each year thousands of youth from the tertiary institutions across the country serve the motherland, Ghana, in diverse fields as a national requirement. The 2022- 2023 National Service year began in earnest and many young people are busy registering to fulfill this national assignment. It is a joyful moment for most of them especially the first timers to start a formal sort of work to gain working experience and hope to earn some allowances monthly. Indeed, most of us can vividly recount those moments with much relish, however, it is without some challenges just like any normal life situation. Some secured permanent jobs out of it, others can also point fingers to something positive they did at the end of their National Service while others too would forever regret that period of their lives.
If l remember very well, some challenges we had to battle with some 18 years back was the persistent delay in receiving our meagre allowances. As a result of this ritual, we changed the name from National Service to “National Suffering” because of the struggle to feed especially those of us posted to faraway places from our home regions.
There are some things associated with this national exercise l wish to share with the prospective personnel that prompted me to write this article when l saw hundreds of young people at Upper East Regional National Service Secretariat happily registering to commence their mandatory service.
My first piece of advice to them is to have purpose of tenacity. After National Service what next? Therefore, your plan for beginning, continuation and ending. I am quite sure most of them are first timers in formal workplace. Be positive minded imbued with humility, respect to authority, eschew laziness and ready to learn. Even if you meet the cleaner on the stairs, accord them the respect due them because they have practical working experience than you.
Most importantly, you have to plan your financial life very very well. It is quite important for those of you from poor background. At this moment your parents and siblings expect one form of support or the other from you. Don’t think you have arrived and start spending lavishly like Arabian Kings and Queens anytime you receive your monthly allowance. To my young brothers in particular, be mindful of the demands from the girls for expensive items like IPhone, Brazilian hair, expensive lunch packs, etc. Remember the economy is in shambles currently as we are struggling to put body and soul, together.
Constantly and deliberately save a percentage of your monthly allowance so that the period when it doesn’t come as expected you can fall on it to sustain yourself. You would appreciate the fact that it pays to save.
My final and passionate advice to you all young National Service Personnel is to start generating business ideas and be able to settle on one by the end of the service period. As soon as you finish, tap into your savings and invest wisely upon the consultation with the experts in that field. The statistics, l amnot quite sure but less than 10 percent of personnel secure job immediately after completing their National Service.
The current unemployment situation in the country is a frightening one. I remember, a sister in one of our conversations, jokingly said if you are not careful you will move with application letters from office to office until your shoes are worn- out and you may not even get money to buy new ones. A word to the wise is enough.
By Godwin Anthony Godwin
Public Relations Officer
Regional Coordinating Council U/E Region
Dear Editor,
I wish to express concern over the allegations that some officials of the Ghana Football Association (GFA) demanded money from players before they are selected for national teams.
If these allegations are true, then, they threaten fairness and integrity in Ghana football.
Just as is done in other countries, selection into any national team should be based solely on merit -talent, discipline, hard work and performance, not on a player’s ability to pay money.
Such practices, if allowed to continue, will discourage many talented but less privileged players from pursuing their dreams. It will also damage the reputation of the GFA and reduce public confidence in the country’s football administration.
Those reports are quite unfortunate but some of us want to believe in the response issued by the FA but would also advise the GFA to conduct some investigation, because like it is often said, there is no smoke without fire.
If it means an individual is going about making such demands on the blind side of the FA, such an investigation can expose the person.
I therefore urge the GFA to investigate these allegations thoroughly and transparently. Any official found guilty should face the appropriate sanctions. At the same time, individuals making the allegations should provide credible evidence so the truth can be established.
Ghanaian football belongs to all of us, and we must protect its integrity by ensuring that merit, transparency and accountability guide player selection.
From John Boateng,
Mamprobi
The recent floods in Accra and the neighbouring areas, which were brought on by a heavy downpour, were very catastrophic and caused loss of lives and property damage.
Similar severe flooding and downpours were also reported in other regions, which has caused anxiety and dread whenever it rains.
In a short period of time, the floods had a dangerous effect on entire communities and landscapes. Because of this, a lot of people are now temporarily putting up with friends or family members.
Videos that went viral on social media showed cars and other valuables being swept away by the floodwaters with little to nothing being done to stop them.
Certain organisations, including the New Times Corporation (NTC), publishers of The Ghanaian Times and The Spectator, were not spared because the flood level damaged important documents and swamped their premises.
Even locations outside of flood-prone zones were inundated by the floods.
The rains would intensify along with thunderstorms, according to the Ghana Meteorological Agency (GMet), which is tasked with observing, analysing, and disseminating weather and climate information to protect lives, promote economic planning, and maintain public safety.
It is important to remember that increased evaporation and atmospheric moisture due to climate change might intensify rainfall. Furthermore, more catastrophic floods are caused by heavy rainfall and shifting topography.
We discussed the causes of floods and mitigation strategies in our earlier editorial, “Accra floods necessitate change in attitude.”
Although the current flood situation is dire, safety can be greatly improved by being ready and understanding what to do.
The Spectator encourages the public to make an effort to be well-informed about weather predictions and take the required precautions to stay safe because the GMet is now providing accurate forecasts.
Make excellent use of the alert services that you can sign up for these days to get notifications on your phone.
Water, non-perishable food, a flashlight, batteries, prescription drugs, crucial documents in waterproof containers, and first aid supplies should all be prepared and kept readily available.
Safeguard your house and offices, relocate valuables to higher floors, and raise electrical appliances off the ground.
Avoid coming into contact with floodwater whenever you can since it might be tainted with chemicals, sewage, and other dangerous substances and also reptiles.
To make sure your neighbours are secure, it is crucial to check on them, especially if they are elderly, disabled, or living alone.
Additionally, parents need to make sure their children do not play in or close to floodwaters.
Let us be careful as there are floods everywhere.
