Editorial
Advice to National Service Personnel
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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
Following the decision to reintroduce the Regional Diary, it has become necessary to provide clear editorial direction on the modalities and content focus for each edition.
To make the Regional Diary more compelling, engaging and reflective of developments in the regions, the Editorial Conference has agreed that the first edition for each region should feature an exclusive interview with the political head of the region—the Regional Minister.
To this end it is expected that the interview will be anchored on the broader government agenda of “Resetting,” with particular emphasis on the administration’s performance nearly two years into its tenure.
The interview should provide an opportunity to assess the government’s interventions in the region, while allowing the Regional Minister to articulate the administration’s successes, challenges and priorities for the years ahead.
Among other things, the interview should explore:
- Key achievements and major interventions since the administration assumed office;
- The impact of government policies and programmes on the people of the region;
- Major challenges confronting the region and how the Regional Coordinating Council is addressing them;
- The status of major development projects and initiatives; Job creation, investment and economic opportunities within the region;
- The Minister’s priorities for the remainder of the administration’s tenure; and Other pressing issues of interest to the people of the region.
Each correspondent is encouraged to approach the interviews with depth and journalistic excellence, asking direct and substantive questions that elicit specific responses and go beyond political rhetoric.
This initiative presents an important opportunity for us to strengthen the Ghanaian Times’ presence and relevance in the regions, reclaim our position as a leading national daily and deepen our relationship with regional authorities and other key stakeholders.
I am confident that, with our collective commitment and professionalism, the Regional Diary can become a distinctive and influential component of the Ghanaian Times’ coverage.
I remain available for further discussions and welcome ideas and suggestions that will help improve the initiative.
Counting on your cooperation.
Thank you.
ACTING NEWS EDITOR
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Dear Editor,
Going viral can make someone famous overnight, but fame alone cannot build a sustainable entertainment industry.
Ghana is blessed with talented musicians, actors, comedians, content creators and other creative professionals. Social media has also created opportunities for young people to showcase their talents to audiences beyond Ghana.
However, we must ask whether we are building lasting careers or simply celebrating the next person to trend online.
Today, a song, skit or video can become popular within hours and disappear from public attention just as quickly. This culture of virality can create the impression that numbers, followers and online attention are the only measures of success.
Our creative industry needs to go beyond that. Young creative need proper management, business knowledge, financial literacy, education and opportunities to develop their skills. They also need structures that can help them turn talent into sustainable careers.
Ghana has the talent to become a major force in Africa’s creative economy. But talent without investment, structure and professional development can easily be wasted
Let us therefore stop asking only, “Who is trending?”, and begin asking, “Who is building a lasting career?” Our creative deserves more than temporary applause, they deserve an industry capable of turning Ghanaian talent into sustainable success.
From Elijah Arkoh
Kaneshie.
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You can now read the Ghanaian Times and The Spectator newspapers from the comfort of your device via TimesNewsPlus.
Join our WhatsApp Channel: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VbBElzjInlqHhl1aTU27
