Editorial
Award schemesshould be on merit,not pay-for-award
THERE is a rising concern about award schemes in Ghana becoming a ‘Pay-for-Award’ or a Vote-to-win mentality instead of awards based on merit. Numerous organisations now hold glamorous ceremonies pledging to honour “excellence,” ranging from business and entertainment to leadership and social influence.
However, behind the glitz, red carpets, and gold-plated awards, a worrying reality is emerging and for many nominees, recognition is no longer earned; it is purchased. This is because honourees now have to pay for their route to excellence.
A reporter from The Spectator interviewed a number of nominees in Tamale and Accra, and they disclosed that the process has become all too familiar. What is so remarkable is that they receive a congratulatory call announcing their nomination, generally portrayed as an acknowledgment of hard work and influence.
Some are asked to pay as much as GH¢2,000 for a table and for the plaque and if the person is not able to afford the award is given to another person who has the ability to pay. If the award is based on merit why do you ask the awardee to pay for it? Many Ghanaians are beginning to question the credibility of these award events.
The invitation of high-profile dignitaries like regional ministers, public officials and celebrities to appear on flyers and at events convinces nominees and the public alike that it is legitimate but in reality it is a façade.
Another issue of concern which has turned recognition into a popularity contest is vote-based competitions where winners are determined not by impact or quality, but by how many votes they can garner often through paid SMS on mobile money platforms.
Instead of people being honoured for their good work they rather have to beg friends, strangers, WhatsApp groups everywhere to vote for them just competing for airtime and mobile money in order to win.
Coupled with that the award events often staged in luxury hotels with celebrity hosts and elaborate decorations have become lucrative business ventures where organisers earn revenue through seat sales, sponsorship deals, photography packages, nomination fees, and promotional slots.
These issues are worrying as the pursuit of recognition has come with a heavy financial burden. According to an awardee she spent more than GH¢23,000 on various awards over three years as cost for seats, plaques, adverts and others. Why must people pay for seats if they are genuinely qualified?
Some beneficiaries have wondered about the genuineness, relevance and credibility of the awards but the issue is while a few argue that such awards help with publicity or branding, many more believe the practice cheapens the meaning of excellence.
The Spectator calls for regulation of some of these awards which are nothing short of scams damaging public trust.
We hope that henceforth awards should reward genuine achievement, not financial contributions for accountability and ethical standards to reign in the award industry.
There should be transparency so that Award Schemes will be on merit, not pay-for-award.
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Dear Editor,
Over the past few months, the ages of some drivers of commercial vehicles continue to baffle me.
This is common during weekends when one boards any of the commercial vehicles – be it trotros and okada.
I remember, I boarded a taxi from the Accra Central area towards the Kwame Nkrumah Circle area. When I sat in the vehicle, I realised the driver was a young boy. Specifically, he said he was 18.
I know our laws do not permit youth under the age of 21 to be driving; that is clearly against Ghana’s Road Traffic laws for operating commercial vehicles.
Some commuters have even had confrontations with station masters over the issue and have refused to board vehicles driven by underage individuals, despite the risk of arriving late for work.
This situation is deeply disturbing because it puts the lives of passengers and other road users at risk.
No matter how skilled such drivers may be, allowing underage persons to operate commercial vehicles is wrong and unlawful. Laws governing road safety are meant to protect lives, and ignoring them only increases the chances of accidents and loss of lives.
I therefore urge the relevant authorities, especially the National Road Safety Authority (NRSA) and the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority, to strictly enforce the age requirements for commercial driving in the country.
Baba
Labadi
The advantages of focusing on girls have been evident over the years. However, current research indicates that the statistics pertaining to boys are still declining.
Approximately 69 percent of boys and 73 percent of girls finish primary school. While Senior High School (SHS) enrollment trends have lately changed, with females significantly outnumbering males (about 110 girls to every 100 boys), Junior High School (JHS) gender parity remains stable, with the Gender Parity Index (GPI) remaining between 1.00 and 1.03.
The Gender Parity Index (GPI) indicates parity between girls and boys.
Although encouraging education for girls is essential for Ghana’s development, the strong emphasis has unintentionally led to inequalities for boys.
Many stakeholders worry that affirmative action and unequal resource distribution put males at risk, which can occasionally lead to increased dropout rates and behavioural issues in specific neighbourhoods.
There has been a lot of discussion among Ghanaian sociologists and educators about the disproportionate support given to girls and how it affects boys.
They claim that the majority of scholarships and special facilities are frequently disproportionately given to girls, which boy child advocates contend makes young men feel ignored or disadvantaged.
Due to these differences, Apostle Professor Kwabena Agyapong-Kodua, Vice Chancellor of Pentecost University, has voiced serious concerns and is pushing for a deliberate discussion about the education and development of boys in order to build stronger families and societies.
The statement was made by Apostle Prof. Agyapong-Kodua during a seminar hosted by the Church of Pentecost Schools Outreach Ministry in Accra on May 16, which is International Day of the Boy Child.
It was organised in association with the Pentecost Men’s Ministry and the Ghana Education Service (GES) under the theme “Flourish and Thrive: Investing and Unleashing Boys for Strong Families and Communities.”
Apostle Prof. Agyapong-Kodua revealed that many young males are vulnerable due to inadequate mentoring, a decline in schooling, negative social media influences, and emotional neglect.
Additionally, he stated that the boy child faced numerous difficulties, including aggression, substance addiction, academic decline, emotional neglect, and the lack of strong role models, as a result of the focus shifting to the girl child.
He worries that since boys are essential to the development of the country, they should not be overlooked in discussions about leadership, education, family stability, and national reform.
The Spectator agrees with Apostle Prof. Agyapong-Kodua and believes that while it is important to train girls, neglecting boys can impede social advancement by causing differences in behaviour and education between young men and women.
“If we don’t make an effort social media will train our children for us. We’re not saying they shouldn’t use social media, but we should help them get the information they need to succeed in life,” he said.
The Spectator believes that the GES would adopt gender-responsive education in order to guarantee that classroom instruction meets the requirements of both boys and girls equally.
Let’s continue to be dedicated to making sure that no child is left behind.
