Features
Black Stars, go for the ultimate …to calm nerves of Ghanaians
Barring last minute hitch or unforeseen circumstances, which I doubt will happen, the much anticipated global soccer fiesta (World Cup), will kick-start tomorrow, November 20, 2022 in the gulf region of Qatar, which is noted to be one of the 10 top richest countries in the world. The opening ceremony of this great tournament on the world football calendar, will take place at Al Bayt, located in Al Khorin the northeast coast of Qatar amidst pomp and pageantry. This tournament will attract a large crowd of spectators from across the world, some of whom will be visiting the oil rich nation for the first time in their lives.
PARTICIPATING COUNTRIES
Thirty- two countries including Ghana are expected to battle it out for the prestigious 18-karat solid gold trophy weighing a total of 4,970 grammes. The participating countries are, GROUP A: Qatar, Ecuador, Senegal and the Netherlands; GROUP B: England, Iran, USA, and Wales; GROUP C: Argentina, Saudi Arabia, Mexico and Poland; GROUP D: France, Australia, Denmark and Tunisia; GROUP E: Spain, Costa Rica, Germany and Japan; GROUP F: Belgium, Canada, Morocco and Croatia; GROUP G: Brazil, Serbia, Switzerland and Cameroon; GROUP H: Portugal, Ghana, Uruguay and South Korea.
This tournament from all intents and purposes, is going to be very tough, hectic and interesting, judging from the pairings of the countries involved. Almost all the countries, have most of their players plying their trade in world class football teams in Europe, Asia, Americas, Africa among others. Connoisseurs of world football, have predicted that the top favourites to win this crucial tournament, will as usual be from either Brazil, Argentina, Germany, France, Spain and England. Countries in Africa, have not been given any ‘dog’ chance in winning the cup. However, this is the time for Africa to prove to the entire world that it has come of age and now ready to lift the golden trophy by hook or crook.
AFRICA TO SHOW CLASS
All eyes are on the participating African countries – Ghana, Senegal, Cameroon, Morocco and Tunisia to prove the doubting Thomases wrong by showing the highest quality in their various groupings, so that they can advance from the group stages to the quarter final stage of the competition. Nothing on this earth is impossible, and we expect Africa to show class in the tournament. We have to prove to the whole world that despite our limited resources including financial problems, which are hampering the smooth growth of football on the continent, we have what it takes to win the world cup, this time round. Players like Thomas Partey of Ghana, Sadio Mane of Senegal, Karl Toko Ekambi of Cameroon, Hakim Ziyech of Morocco and Youssef Msakni of Tunisia, are expected to be at the forefront, to lift high the national flags of their respective countries.
Ghanaians are expecting nothing but a total, swift and fluent football from the Black Stars, headed by one of the most acclaimed Ghanaian football coaches in the world, Coach Otto Addo, who was instrumental for Ghana’s qualification to the world cup tournament in Qatar. His tactical approach in handling the team, enabled Ghana to qualify at the expense of the Super Eagles of Nigeria and Ghanaians will expect more from him as we battle it out in the group stages of the competition.
TIME TO REVISIT 2010 WORLD CUP ACHIEVEMENT
This is the time for Ghana, to revisit its achievement in the 2010 World Cup tournament in South Africa in which certain Suarez of Uruguay, denied us our qualification to the semi-final stages of the competition. The Black Stars progressed beyond the group stages and reached the quarter finals, only to be eliminated. It was the wicked hands of Suarez, which prevented the ball from entering the net of which resultant penalty was wasted by our debutant and prolific striker, Asamoah Gyan. Had it not been that misfortune, Ghana would surely have progressed to the semi-finals and, indeed, the ultimate finals of the world cup in 2010. It was unfortunate that during that time, there was nothing like Video Assistant Referee (VAR) to determine whether the ball crossed the goal line before Suarez applied his hand on the ball because, judging from what transpired at that time,the general observation by people who saw the action was that, it was a perfect goal.Thank God, this time round, FIFA, the world football governing body has put in place all the various mechanisms including the almighty VAR, which has been tried and tested in various international football games across the world and is working effectively.
COACH OTTO ADDO MUST SHOW CLASS
The die is cast and, indeed, we expect the Black Stars and their charges to prove to the millions of football lovers in Ghana that, their presence is not just a fluke nor to add to the numbers at the tournament, but more importantly, to participate fully with the mindset that they will strive to ensure that the necessary impact is felt in the competition.We expect Coach Otto Addo and his various assistants to do well to condition our players to ‘die a little’ for Ghana. Steps should be taken to ensure that money and other investments that have been sunk into our preparation and participation in this tournament, are utilised for their intended purposes to prevent any unpalatable and nasty scenes and behaviours in camp.
LET’S AVOID PAST NASTY INCIDENTS
The government and for that matter, the Ghana Football Association (GFA), needs to ensure that money meant for the players and the technical handlers are readily available, while at the same time, instilling a total discipline among the rank and file of the players and their handlers. We are going to this tournament as ambassadors to represent our nation and, therefore, we must be seen to be maintaining the highest standard of discipline as we converge on Qatar to showcase our talents. The nasty incident we witnessed in a similar tournament some years back, in which because of winning bonuses, players had to fight with coaches and other handlers, that necessitated the banning of some skillful players from featuring in the national team should be a thing of the past and be consigned to history.
UNITING THE COUNTRY THROUGH WORLD CUP
Football is, indeed, a passion in Ghana, the people love their football with all the funfairs, it brings about total unity of purpose and heals certain wounds especially, political upheavals and antagonisms. No wonder, Parliament had to reschedule the date for the presentation of the 2023 Budget Statement in order not to disrupt the attention of the House and Ghanaians in general to the Black Stars opening match against Portugal. The game of football, especially when it involves our national teams, wears no party colours- no NPP, no NDC. Imagine, the Black Stars have conquered major teams such as Brazil, Argentina, Germany, France, Portugal, England and the likes and have reached the finals or let say the team has won this world cup, what will be the general feeling or reaction in this country? Your guess is as good as mine. We will definitely forget about the present economic challenges and hardships of our country and go into frenzy and ecstatic mood, as well as uncontrolled excitement. Indeed, we have to use this particular World Cup tournament to calm the nerves of Ghanaians in view of the unstable nature of our economy that has led to a total anger and disaffection among the citizenry and the government.
Come Thursday, November 24, 2022, Ghana will square off with Portugal in their Group H hectic opening match in Doha at 4: 00 pm and we expect fireworks. The Black Stars will then meet South Korea on November 28, 2022, at 1: pm, then the final group match against Uruguay on December 2, 2022, at 3: pm.
All is not lost on Africa yet and it has to prove to the world that it is a force to reckon with when it comes to global football tournaments. We also have the men to rub shoulders with the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo of Portugal, Lionel Messi of Argentina, Robert Lawandawski of Poland, Kylian Mbappe of France and Harry Kane of England. Forward ever, backward never!
Contact email/WhatsApp of author:
ataani2000@yahoo.com 0277753946/0248933366
By Charles Neequaye
I experienced something on Monday, June 15, that really frustrated me. I had to go to the ministries but I could not get up early that day so I decided to pick a taxi and get to the Tuba Junction.
When I got there I realised that Traffic had built up from the Toll Booth towards Accra. After a while I got a Taxi and it was when we got to a certain spot on the road, that I realised why there was a traffic jam.
There is a short stretch of the road where each time it rains heavily, loose material run down the hill onto the road, blocking one side of the road. Vehicles from Kasoa to Accra are then forced to move into one of the lanes of those going towards Kasoa from Accra.
The two lane road from Accra to Kasoa becomes a single carriage way. That was the reason for the traffic jam from the toll booth onwards.
This has been a perineal problem and yet, no permanent solution has been found till date. The area falls under Ga South and even though, a new MCE has taken over, the technocrats are still there and so the problem is not new to them.
There is therefore no excuse for the inability of the Ga South Metropolitan Assembly to resolving the problem on that stretch of the road. Apart from the Ga South Metropolitan Assembly, another institution that must be held accountable is the Ghana Highways Authority.
The Highways Authority cannot say they are unaware of this issue. The fact that the problem falls within the area of responsibility of the Ga South Assembly, does not relieve the Ghana Highways Authority, of their responsibility of ensuring that our highways are maintained in a motorable state at all times.
A collaboration between the Ghana Highways Authority and The Ga South Municipal Assembly is required for a permanent resolution of the problem.
There was another traffic jam at a place called Atala about 250 metres to the traffic light at Old Barrier as a result of an issue similar to the one close to the toll booth, that I talked about earlier.
When we got to Weija junction, we encountered another traffic jam. The cause of this jam was a bad condition of road about 80 metres from the traffic light at Ga South Hospital heading towards Accra.
Due to the bad nature at that section of the road, vehicles are compelled to slow down resulting in a traffic jam stretching all the way to Weija Junction.
I started wondering if that short stretch of road cannot be sorted on one Sunday when traffic is usually light. When we got to the traffic light at Odorkor, there was another issue.
When the traffic light shows green, there is a slow down because there is a big pothole or should I say manhole in the outer lane, right at the traffic light. Vehicles in the outer lane are compelled to swerve into the second lane thereby causing a traffic to slow down and resulting in a traffic jam.
It is very important to take into account the effect of traffic jam on the national economy. If we are able to assess the value of the loss to the economy of the nation, I believe the issue of traffic jam will be prioritised.
Imagine persons working at various Government Organisations like Registrar General’s Department, Ghana Ports and Habours Authority, Ghana Revenue Authority, CEPS etc. and lives at Kasoa and whose job is to collect revenue for the state and is held up in traffic.
Just imagine the effect their lateness to work will have on the economy if you consider the delays in say clearing of goods at the port and as a result traders cannot sell their goods for government to generate the required taxes.
Let us deal with the traffic jams on our streets to promote economic growth. God bless.
By Laud Kissi-Mensah
Mortality is an inherent aspect of life, a universal experience that has sparked philosophical, theological, and scientific inquiry throughout human history.
This article aims to provide a comprehensive and nuanced exploration of mortality, acknowledging the complexity of the topic and the diverse perspectives surrounding it.
The biological imperative
From a biological standpoint, death is a natural part of the life cycle. It serves as a mechanism for the evolution of species, allowing for the passing on of genetic material and the adaptation to environmental changes.
Evolutionary perspective: Death allows for the recycling of resources, promoting the survival and adaptation of species.
Life span and senescence: Cellular aging and the limitations of biological systems contribute to mortality.
Philosophical and existential perspectives
Existentialism: Emphasises individual freedom and responsibility in the face of mortality.
Meaning and purpose: The finite nature of life can prompt individuals to seek meaning and purpose.
The human condition: Mortality is a fundamental aspect of the human experience, shaping our perceptions and values.
Cultural and spiritual views
Afterlife and spirituality: Many cultures and religions believe in an afterlife or spiritual continuation.
Rituals and mourning: Cultural practices surrounding death reflect the significance of mortality in human experience.
Legacy and remembrance: The impact of one’s life can transcend mortality.
Ethical considerations
End-of-life care: Ethical debates surround issues like euthanasia, assisted dying, and palliative care.
Quality of life: Balancing the value of life with the quality of life is a complex ethical issue.
Resource allocation: Societal decisions about healthcare and resource distribution involve considerations of mortality.
Psychological impact
Grief and loss: The experience of mortality can evoke profound emotional responses.
Fear and anxiety: The awareness of mortality can lead to existential anxiety.
Appreciation and gratitude: Recognising mortality can foster appreciation for life.
Conclusion
Mortality is a multifaceted aspect of human existence, influencing how we live, relate, and find meaning. Understanding and acknowledging mortality can prompt deeper reflections on life and our place in the world.
By Robert Ekow Grimmond-Thompson
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