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Ghana needs rebirth
I have always been fascinated by the idea of the being ‘BORN AGAIN’ philosophy or the underlying principle or creed of the Christian faith as espoused in the book of the Apostle John, Chapter 3: 1-6 on the ‘New Birth’.
It is written that “now there was a certain man among the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler (member of the Sanhedrin) among the Jews, who came to Jesus at night and said to Him, “Rabbi (Teacher), we know (without any doubt) that You have come from God as a teacher; for no one can do these signs (these wonders, these attesting miracles) that You do unless God is with him.” Jesus answered him, “I assure you and most solemnly say to you, unless a person is born again (reborn from above – spiritually transformed, renewed, sanctified), he cannot (ever) see and experience the kingdom of God.”
Nicodemus said to Him, “How can a man be born when he is old? He cannot enter his mother’s womb a second time and be born, can he?” Jesus answered, “I assure you and most solemnly say to you, and unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot (ever) enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh (the physical is merely physical), and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
As a layman in spiritual things, I will only consider what I find fascinating about the whole philosophy of ‘REBIRTH’ or ‘NEW BIRTH’ as it does not connote a new or second physical birth; but more of a ‘rebirth of the soul or spirit; a renewed existence,activity or growth; a renaissance or renascence; revival; renewal; reawakening; resurgence; revitalisation; resurrection; regeneration; rejuvenation; restoration; reincarnation; metempsychosis; or ‘new beginning’.
As we approach three decades of Fourth Republican experimentation or journey of life as a nation and as a people since 1993, I am left in doubt that, the time has come for us all to step back and have an INTROSPECTION of how we want to live the next 30 years of our lives or what legacies, we would wish to bequeath our children and children’s children.
This is exactly why we need to consider the story of Nicodemus at this point in time, considering what we witnessed in our Parliament few days ago.
For someone, who believes in the whole idea of DESTINIES as being an integral part of our DNA, that which carries the genetic information necessary for the organisation and functioning of most living cells and controls the inheritance of characteristics, I believe it is not for nothing that we had a HUNG PARLIAMENT in the 2020 General Election. It is for the same reason that the events of Friday, 26th November, 2021, was necessary for us to pause and consider the issue of REBIRTH, otherwise posterity will judge our generation badly because we did not take the necessary steps for a renewal, revival, reawakening or renaissance of that which gave us the Fourth Republic.
And, it is not about one of the legacies of Flt. Lt. Jerry John Rawlings.
We will recall that, in pursuance of the Consultative Assembly Law 1991 (PNDC Law 253) after several agitations for return to constitutional rule, the Provisional National Defence Council set up a Consultative Assembly to prepare a draft Constitution for the administration of Ghana.
Consequently, the Consultative Assembly submitted the draft Constitution for the Republic of Ghana to the P.N.D.C. on 31st March, 1992.
The said draft Constitution was submitted to a National Referendum held throughout Ghana on 28th day of April, 1992, the draft Constitution was approved by the people of Ghana as the Constitution for the administration of Ghana and in pursuance of the PNDC Law, 1991 (PNDC 253) the Constitution came into force on the 7th day of January, 1993 with the election and swearing-in of Flt. Lt. Jerry John Rawlings as the first President and Head of State of the 4th Republic.
I believe until Prof. John Evans Atta Mills (God bless and rest his soul) assumed office as the third President of the 4th Republic, after the tenure of John Kofi Agyekum Kufuor, there had been lingering thoughts and murmurings for the need to tweak the 4th Republican Constitution a bit.
Maybe, Prof. J. E. A. Mills saw what we are seeing now, the compulsive need for a certain REBIRTH of this nation, starting with a review of the Constitution of the Republic of Ghana. He, on assumption of office in January, 2009, invoked the powers conferred on him by Article 278 (1) of the Constitution of the Republic of Ghana to establish a Commission of Enquiry into any matter of public interest. The President set up a Commission of Enquiry to review the operations of the 1992 Constitution of the Republic of Ghana.
My interest in the historic antecedent is not whether we need to revisit the Report of the Constitution Review Commission (CRC) with its accompanying WHITE PAPER but to take us all to other occurrences in the country, agitations upon agitations for all kinds of matters; issues of Galamsey and its dire consequences on our environment and our future; issues of armed robberies; the issue of first time in the history of the 4th Republican dispensation a Budget of a Government is ‘rejected’(forget the reverse mirroring antecedent that the Finance Minister’s father once engineered the rejection of Amon Nikoi’s Budget statement years back and for which the latter resigned)for whatever reason (s); issues of ‘unfair’ or unequitable distribution of the national cake, issues of ethics and values; issues of who we are as ‘GHANAIANS’; issues of such petty things as we take for granted years past yet now are big matters leading to offensive, derogatory, demeaning and belittling language on the airwaves; issues of what impact all these matters are having on our children; issues of ‘WHAT IS THE TRUTH’ now as against ‘LIES BEING FORCED DOWN OUR THROATS’everywhere as the new truth in all spheres of our national lives, including the church – where did we get it so wrong as a people and as a nation?
As we approach the 30th anniversary of the 4th Republican dispensation, I want to be like Nicodemus and ask: “HOW CAN GHANA BE BORN AGAIN?”How can we make the effort at changing the narrative, which seems to be staring us in the face as if to ask: CAN’T WE LEARN ANYTHING FROM OUR PAST MISTAKES?
As we start the countdown to SATURDAY, 7th JANUARY, 2023, to celebrate THREE DECADES OF THIS DISPENSATION, my prayers include the fact that for once we would not organise and host a PARTISAN NATIONAL AWARDS NIGHT – where the organisers award themselves and their family members only with the medallions; that we would set up a bi-partisan REVIEW COMMITTEE to assess the work done by Prof. J. E. A. Mills’ CRC with its White Paper for a proposed referendum by June 2022 so that we could begin the REBIRTH of our country, where our children will now be taught and would in turn inculcate the NATIONAL ANTHEM AND PLEDGE into their daily lives as ‘PROUD GHANAIANS’; and where this reawakening will give birth to the ‘NEW GHANAIAN’ as Nicodemus was taught by Jesus Christ.
The author is a Land Economist & Appraiser,
Events Architect & Planner and Sport Business Consultant
By Magnus Naabe Rex Danquah
Local mattress manufacturers have raised serious concerns over the influx of substandard mattresses, warning that these products pose significant health risks to consumers and threaten the sustainability of Ghana’s mattress industry.
At a press briefing held in Kumasi on Tuesday, manufacturers accused unregistered foreign entities, particularly Chinese firms, of flooding the market with cheap mattresses made from polystyrene.
Mr Yaw Ampem Darko, a spokesperson for the local manufacturers, warned that prolonged use of substandard mattresses, especially those made with polystyrene, could result in chronic back pain, musculoskeletal disorders, poor posture, and diminished sleep quality.
These health implications, they stressed, were not always immediately evident but accumulate over time, especially among vulnerable populations such as children and the elderly.
This material, typically used for packaging, is considered unsuitable and unsafe for bedding.
According to industry leaders, these sub-standard products have been circulating for at least five years, gaining traction among unsuspecting consumers due to their unusually low prices.
“These mattresses are being sold at suspiciously low prices, luring unsuspecting consumers who are unaware of the health dangers.”
“We are not just protecting our businesses; we are protecting Ghanaian lives. The government must act swiftly to stem this tide before more citizens fall victim to these dangerous products,” Mr Yaw Ampem Darko stated.
The Ghana Standards Authority (GSA) has acknowledged the issue and, in response, announced a nationwide enforcement campaign aimed at clamping down on the production, distribution, and sale of substandard mattresses.
The campaign, which was scheduled to take effect from September 30, 2025, was empowered by the GSA Act, 2022 (Act 1078), which authorises the Authority to seize and seal non-compliant products and impose sanctions on offenders.
In a statement signed by the Director General of the GSA, Professor George Agyei, the authority cited Sections 29 and 43 of the Act, reiterating that all mattresses sold in Ghana must meet established national standards or face confiscation.
The statement further emphasised that mattresses failing to meet these standards not only compromise sleep quality but also contribute to long-term health complications, including spinal and neck pain.
Despite the GSA’s commitment, manufacturers have expressed frustration over delays in implementation and called for stronger enforcement mechanisms.
They urged the GSA to work in close collaboration with the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority and national law enforcement agencies to identify and prosecute violators of Ghana’s quality standards.
Manufacturers are also appealing to consumers to remain vigilant and prioritise their health by verifying that any mattress they purchase bears the GSA certification mark.
Moreover, they caution the public against purchasing suspiciously cheap mattresses that lack proper labelling or identifiable branding, as these were often indicators of substandard or counterfeit products.
As the official enforcement deadline had expired with no show, the local producers insisted that much more than business interests were at stake.
They argued that without swift and sustained action, the health and safety of Ghanaian consumers would continue to be compromised.
“Public awareness, strict enforcement, and collaboration among regulatory bodies are essential if we are to protect the integrity of the local industry and the wellbeing of the Ghanaian people,” Mr Darko indicated.
From Kingsley E. Hope, Kumasi
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The Founder of the Raissa Child Protection Initiative, Ms Raissa Sambou, has urged authorities to impose severe punishment on individuals, including teachers and guardians, who sexually abuse young girls.
Speaking in an interview to mark this year’s International Day of the Girl Child (October 11), Ms Sambou condemned the increasing cases of sexual exploitation involving minors, describing such acts as “heartless, criminal, and a total betrayal of trust.”
She noted that those entrusted with the care and education of children must not be the same people who violate them, stressing that “anyone found guilty of abusing a girl child must face the full rigours of the law without leniency.”
The International Day of the Girl Child is observed annually to promote the rights of girls, empower them to reach their full potential, and draw attention to the challenges they face worldwide.
Ms Sambou lamented that poverty continues to push many young girls into vulnerable situations, exposing them to exploitation.
She expressed concern that some headmasters, teachers, and community members who should protect girls rather take advantage of them.
“This must stop immediately. The safety of every girl must never be compromised,” she said, urging the public to report all forms of abuse to the appropriate authorities and called for swift action by law enforcement agencies against perpetrators.
Addressing girls directly, Ms Sambou encouraged them to take their education seriously and to believe in their potential.
“It is possible to be young and responsible. Your future is bright, protect it, believe in it, and never let anyone dim your light,” she advised.
She further urged girls to choose their friends wisely, stay disciplined, and speak up if anyone makes sexual advances toward them.
Ms Sambou concluded with a rallying call for collective action, saying “speak up, protect them, and empower them. Together, we can end the sexual exploitation of girls.”
By Esinam Jemima Kuatsinu
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