Features
A chance for Ghana women
God made man and woman, He gave man extra strength in recognition of his title as head of the family. When God appoints you, he empowers you. So man was empowered so that in any event of a domestic brawl, he would not be found with a cracked jaw.
The extra strength God gave to man was not to be used to enslave his wife, but to ensure discipline if she became rebellious, disloyal and revolutionary. This implies that, it is in the nature of a wife to overthrow her husband and declare herself head of family, especially when the husband loses his job.
The power accorded man is, however, meant to be exercised not abused. In some cases, men over-exercise their strength to quell domestic riots and their wives end up with an extra eye, half a nose and several teeth missing in action.
The man will justify his excessive application of force to the nature of her wife’s rebellion, the weight of her insults, the rapidity of her curses and the riotous nature of her emotions.
After a few days in hospital, the wife might decide to return to her marital home, loving her dear husband even more.
And she’ll tell her furious mother that it was all her fault. Her husband should not be blamed, because it was in her own interest that she was thrashed, and veritably so. The love between a wife and a husband can sometimes transcend into the boundaries of stupidity!
KUNG FU
In Chinaland, the men don’t have a field day. The woman comes into marriage with a Blackbelt in Kung Fu (9th Dan). She can somersault and flip over ten times in 15 seconds in the small kitchen. So where does the man’s power lie? In his waist?
When a fight breaks out and the man isn’t as skilled in karate or taekwando, he’ll sure end up with a dislocated jaw and a crooked face.
He’ll not be able to tell his friends that he endured a good beating from his wife. What he’ll do is to go for further training so that come the next domestic tournament, he could give a good account of himself to earn the respect of his in-laws. A man who is beaten by his wife cannot earn even a dog’s respect!
Now, God also created the vine, so that sinful man can cultivate grapes and produce wine to gladden his heart. If man doesn’t gladden his heart, he would be too hard on his family. When he doesn’t drink, he goes about finding fault with everything. And before you’re aware he’s slapping his wife left, right and centre!
God understands man better than man understands himself and it was not for any other reason that God created the vine, other than to gladden that heart of man. Unfortunately, the average man goes beyond gladdening his heart. He wants to booze his head off; to booze his eyes blind.
When alcohol goes past gladdening the heart, it becomes a mocker. A drunken man can cause mayhem. So God decided that those whose lives were dedicated to him should never touch alcohol, lest they denigrated His image. Those became the Nazirites!
PERMISSION
God, in His own wisdom, extended the authority of man in the home to the church. So according to the Bible (not according to Kwame Alomele) women are not permitted to be pastors.
Fortunately, the Bible doesn’t debar women from becoming rulers of nations. So a woman can be a second-in-command in her home, but the chief executive of a nation. When she gets home from her office she must salute the husband. The President must prepare her husband’s morning coffee and bring it to him with a slight bow. No presidential pretentions about it!
In parts of Africa, women rarely aspire to become presidents due to the cultural dominance of men over women. So for decades, African nations did not have female presidents until Ellen Sirleaf-Johnson decided to take up the challenge against soccer legend George Weah.
Now, with history having been made with Sirleaf-Johnson as Africa’s first lady president, the question being asked is whether this is not the much-awaited floodgate for the advent of women presidents in African nations.
South Africa has a woman vice-president, a novelty in that part of Africa. In Ghana, the clarion call has been offered for women not to sit on the fence but to participate in politics, society, wherever they find themselves.
Today, we have more lady members of parliament than we ever had. So the time has probably come for Ghana to welcome her first woman president 2028, and why not?
Who says we don’t have women. I can mention at least one who readily comes to mind. Her name is Hawa Yakubu.
We have other academia and business, well-groomed, highly intelligent, who take up the challenge once.
Some people actually want women to lead because of pacifist nature, their avers violence and their milk of kindness. All over, the women who ruled made a Golda Meir ruled Israel, Indira Gandhi – India: Agatha.
Barbara -Malta, Corazon Aquino- Philippines, Chamorro- Nicaragua, Mary Robinson -Ireland, Chandrika Kumaratunga- Sri Lanka, Mary Mc Aleese – Ireland, ( incumbent), Vaira Vike – Freiberga (Lativa), Tarja Halonen – Finland, Gloria Arroyo -Philipines, and Margaret Thatcher- Great Britain.
Hawa Yakubu, a very intelligent and experienced politician and those in her class motivated by Sirleaf- Johnson’s achievement and brace up to it. This will also bring in a lot of excitement into Ghana politics which has so far been dominated by men.
This article was first published on Saturday, December 3, 2005
Features
The golden experience
When gold and diamonds were first discovered in South Africa, many men lost interest in sex. The discovery, therefore, caused marital problems the world over. Wives thought their dear husbands had gotten impotent and perhaps needed herbal treatment – AK 47 bitters. In fact, they were mistaken. Their husbands were only preoccupied with dreaming about gold and just couldn’t get it up to fulfill their marital obligations.
When the gold and diamond sensation got blown out of proportion, happily-married men either divorced their wives or simply left them and headed for South Africa to “do galamsey.” It was also a boom for some wives.
Hot-headed, sexy, firm buttocks, slim waisted, shinny-lipped wives left their husbands gaping in wonder as they floated to the Rand to hawk their beautiful bodies for gold money. Some became strip-teasers and belly dancers to entertain tired gold diggers and made a fortune therefrom. Gold had brought a good measure of madness to the world
The global insanity became so infectious that gainfully employed folks vacated post and were last seen in dirty garb with shovels and pans digging gold. Some pastors and catechists were even infected with the virus of the golden madness.
They promptly told the Holy Spirit to hold on “small”. They threw off the cassock, shoved the Holy Bible aside and travelled thousands of miles to dig diamonds. Man shall not subsist only on the word of God. Moreover, when man is bellyful his chances of making it to heaven are high. The reason is that the distance between a man’s stomach and the gates of heaven is automatically reduced once his belly is well-filled with good food and wine.
The gold rush also brought ready employment to armed robbers. They quickly procured arms and ammo and danced joyfully to the land of the Afrikaners, not to dig for gold, but to rob successful miners of their fortune. It brought about violence and a security problem. The miners were compelled to arm themselves and people died through violence while others were maimed.
The situation was characterised by mayhem and some returned home wealthy, others poorer than they had been. It was a whole confusion of comedy and tragedy, successes and failures, joy and sorrow. That is what gold begets.
Go to Obuasi and witness what gold can do to a human being. Illegal gold diggers are prepared to die in defence of their notoriety and determination to prosper from minerals that do not belong to them. They are armed to the teeth and would readily cause harm if antagonised.
Some have died while digging for gold or through mercury or cyanide poisoning. When workers of Ashanti Goldfields blast surface rock and wait for the dust to settle, these galamsey men rush in there to scoop out earth which they are not supposed to be doing because of the health risks and because it is unlawful.
Galamsey operators have clashed with police and security men of the Ashanti Goldfields Corporation (AGC) more than once this year alone. In a recent offense, the operators were alleged to have destroyed AGC property, torched housing facilities, and stole 58,000 birds from the corporation’s poultry unit, among other things.
Surely, the rogues are selling some of the birds cheaply under half the price, and the rest are certainly being organised into light soup to clear malaria. Of course, some of the meat would end up roasted, fried or toasted and eaten with ground pepper and akpeteshie if not Extra ‘Hewale.’
This is the comedy of the palaver. The looming tragedy is that the galamsey men are said to be getting ready to avenge the death of three of their colleagues who were killed in the confrontation. Apparently, they are not content with the chicken festival and want to cause havoc.
The problem with those who mine gold is that they are die-hards – Yente gyae! Most of them have seen the bitterness of life, have suffered hunger, disease and deprivation. They find galamsey as the golden way out. It is their saviour, their messiah. If they would meet death in the course of finding a means to survive, they would welcome it. And if they could be killed, then they must also kill. That sums up the mentality of these operators.
I have a feeling that it would be better for the authorities to deal prudently with the matter while beefing up security in the area. In the first place, to deprive them completely of their operations without offering them any alternatives would mean turning them loose to become armed robbers since they are armed, anyway. We have enough armed robbers in the system. We don’t want new entrants.
What should be done is that their activities should be regulated rather than obliterated. A way should be found to meet their representatives to iron out the growing differences. And the following must be considered.
That they cannot operate without licence; they should be confined to specific areas of operation so as to save the environment from degradation; should renounce violence and the celebration of chicken festivals; should regulate the activities of their members; should not encroach upon AGC property and desist from lawlessness of all kinds, especially stealing and be prepared to be tried and jailed if they breach the peace or the law.
The aim is not to encourage galamsey but to regulate it so that it becomes legal and employment generating without it become a nuisance to society.
As one AGC official told me recently, the activities of the galamsey operators do not adversely affect the corporation except when the operators become lawless, encroach and steal. That is where they become undesirable.
It is unfortunate that AGC does not arm their security men well enough to deal with lawless operators. Anyhow, we hope the situation would be well-thought-out so that calm can return to the Obuasi area.
Already, the prostitutes in the area are feeling uneasy. When there is a stir, business goes down. Theirs is a matter of the heart and of the thigh. That’s a cool matter and they are praying hard that the matter should be resolved at a high level. Because the higher you go, the cooler it becomes!
Features
Angina: Understanding the causes, symptoms, and treatment options
Angina is a type of chest pain or discomfort that occurs when the heart muscle does not receive enough oxygen-rich blood. It is a common symptom of coronary artery disease (CAD), which occurs when the arteries that supply blood to the heart become narrowed or blocked.
What is Angina?
Angina is a warning sign that the heart is not receiving enough blood flow. It is usually triggered by physical activity or stress, which increases the heart’s demand for oxygen. When the heart muscle does not receive enough oxygen, it can cause pain or discomfort in the chest, arms, neck, jaw, or back.
Types of Angina
There are several types of angina, including:
1. Stable Angina: This is the most common type of angina, which occurs when the heart muscle is not receiving enough oxygen during physical activity or stress.
2. Unstable Angina: This type of angina is more severe and occurs when the heart muscle is not receiving enough oxygen, even at rest.
3. Variant Angina: This type of angina is also known as Prinzmetal’s angina, which occurs when the coronary arteries spasm, reducing blood flow to the heart.
4. Microvascular Angina: This type of angina occurs when the small blood vessels in the heart become narrowed or blocked, reducing blood flow to the heart muscle.
Causes of Angina
The main cause of angina is coronary artery disease (CAD), which occurs when the arteries that supply blood to the heart become narrowed or blocked. Other factors that can contribute to angina include:
1. High Blood Pressure: Uncontrolled high blood pressure can increase the risk of developing angina.
2. High Cholesterol: High levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol can increase the risk of developing angina.
3. Smoking: Smoking can damage the coronary arteries and increase the risk of developing angina.
4. Diabetes: People with diabetes are more likely to develop angina.
5. Family History: A family history of heart disease can increase the risk of developing angina.
Symptoms of Angina
The symptoms of angina can vary from person to person, but common symptoms include:
1. Chest pain or discomfort: A feeling of pressure, tightness, or heaviness in the chest.
2. Pain or Discomfort in the Arms, Neck, Jaw, or Back: Pain or discomfort that radiates to the arms, neck, jaw, or back.
3. Shortness of breath: Feeling winded or short of breath, even when at rest.
4. Fatigue: Feeling tired or weak, even after resting.
5. Dizziness or Lightheadedness: Feeling dizzy or lightheaded, especially when standing up quickly.
Diagnosis of Angina
Diagnosing angina usually involves a combination of physical examination, medical history, and diagnostic tests, including:
1. Electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG): A test that measures the electrical activity of the heart.
2. Stress Test- A test that measures the heart’s ability to function during physical activity.
3. Echocardiogram: A test that uses sound waves to create images of the heart.
4. Coronary Angiography: A test that uses dye and X-rays to create images of the coronary arteries.
Treatment options for Angina
Treatment for angina usually involves a combination of lifestyle changes, medications, and medical procedures, including:
1. Lifestyle Changes: Quitting smoking, exercising regularly, and eating a healthy diet.
2. Medications: Taking medications to reduce the frequency and severity of angina episodes, such as nitrates, beta blockers, and calcium channel blockers.
3. Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting (CABG): A surgical procedure that involves bypassing blocked coronary arteries.
4. Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PCI): A minimally invasive procedure that involves opening blocked coronary arteries using a balloon and stent.
Conclusion
Angina is a serious medical condition that requires prompt attention. By understanding the causes, symptoms, and treatment options for angina, individuals can take steps to manage their condition and reduce their risk of complications. If you are experiencing symptoms of angina, it is essential to seek medical attention immediately.
References:
1. “Angina” by the American Heart Association
2. “Angina: Symptoms, Causes, and Treatment” by the Mayo Clinic
3. “Angina” by the National
By Robert Ekow Grimond-Thompson
