Editorial
Caution; the watchword this Christmas
All too soon, the year 2022 is gradually but surely coming to an end. And as Ghanaians, we can all testify that the year has been a difficult one, especially in the area of finance.
However, we did not lose sight of the fact that God’s plan for us is always the best even in this economic turbulence we find ourselves in. I want to quote from the Holy Writ to support His divine presence from Romans 8:28 that says “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according his purpose .”
Despite the challenges we experienced, the season of Christmas can never go without the usual celebration. This season goes with a lot activities and preparations, most importantly the movement from one place to another.
Very often, the ugly and undesirable road accidents we witness must be reduced to the bearest minimum if not entirely eradicated. Usually, the aftermath of this road crushes leave so much to be desired as dear lives and properties are lost. And dependants left behind with so much pain while others become orphans overnight at very tender ages.
On this note, l wish to sincerely advise drivers, especially the long distance commercial drivers to be very cautious on the road.
The temptation to speed with the hope to return for another trip before the day ends will be high in oder to make some extra money. But please remember that it is only when you are alive and well that you have the chance to go many rounds even after the Christmas season. Therefore, ensure to obey all traffic regulations. Don’t forget the slogan “ Don’t drink and drive and Don’t drive and drink”.
Again, some passengers may also urge drivers to speed for them to meet certain goals they set for themselves. Please desist from this bad attitude and allow the drivers behind the steering wheel to do what they know best.
Passengers should not look on while the drivers are speeding unnecessarily or making wrongful overtaking. Who knows if an accident occurs the driver may survive but you can die.
My appeal also goes to the Drivers’ Unions to organise some in-service training for their members to refresh their memories and some forgotten ethics regarding their profession. The Road Safety Authority must be proactive and well strategised seriously as we enter the month of December to curb avoidable road crushes during this Christmas period.
They must not sit aloof or only be heard or seen to be profering solutions on radio or television but be practical about the road safety issues. There is no doubt that the core mandate for Road Safety Authority is to protect life and property on the road. So if the opposite is the case, what are their existence for? They should not fail to apply the necessary sanction where it must. The rewards might not be immediate but generation yet unborn will recognise their contribution towards national development.
I think we cannot leave the Driver and vehicle Licensing Authority out in this crucial crusade. All hands must be on deck to fight road nuisance which has been depriving motherland, Ghana of her precious human resources for development. If my memory serves the right, in the same period in the year 2000, three experienced neurologists lost their lives on Techiman-Kintanpo Road in a tragic road accident.
We all know how hard it is to come by these specialists but Ghana lost three at a go through a needless road crash, the consequences to the nation the least said the better.
Finally, I urge religious leaders including Imams and traditional authorities to provide education on this road menace to their followers anytime the opportunity presents itself. The various followers of these religions believe in their leaders and any advice they give through sermons and other forms of interaction will go a long way to sanitise our roads. Let me use this rare occasion to wish all Ghanaians, especially our drivers a happy safe Christmas in advance.
By Godwin Anthony Nkunu
Public Relations Officer
Upper East Regional Coordinating Council – Bolgatanga
Dear Editor,
The recent shooting to death of Javits Frimpong, a 15 year old Ghanaian student in Bronx, USA, is a heartbreaking reminder that bullying should never be dismissed as a normal part of growing up.
Reports indicate that the teenager had allegedly been subjected to bullying at school before he was fatally shot on his way to class.
While investigations continue and the exact motive yet to be officially established, the circumstances surrounding this tragedy have raised serious concerns about the impact of not checking bullying.
What makes this loss even more painful is that Javits Frimpong, had moved from Ghana to the United States with hopes of a brighter future through education. Instead, his life was cut short at an age when he should have been pursuing his dreams and preparing for adulthood.
Bullying is often viewed as harmless teasing, but its effects can be severe and long-lasting. Victims may suffer emotional trauma, anxiety, depression, poor academic performance, and, in extreme cases, become entangled in violence.
This incident should serve as a wake-up call to schools everywhere. Complaints of bullying must be taken seriously, investigated promptly, and addressed decisively before situations escalate.
Parents, teachers, school authorities, and community leaders all share a responsibility to create safe environments for young people.
Open communication, counselling services, anti-bullying education, and effective disciplinary measures can help protect vulnerable students.
Equally important is teaching young people respect, empathy, and peaceful conflict resolution.
As we mourn the loss of Javits Frimpong, let us also commit ourselves to ensuring that no other child loses their life because warning signs were ignored. The fight against bullying is not merely a school issue; it is a societal responsibility.
Yours faithfully,
Dansoman
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The recent report that 294 teenage girls in the Ayawaso West Municipality failed to receive their Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination is a depressing reminder of the gap between medical progress and public trust.
In a focused campaign with 997 girls the Roman Ridge Sub-Municipal Health Directorate reached a 70 percent coverage rate. Our public health professionals deserve praise for reaching 703 girls, but the remaining 30 percent pose a serious threat.
This shortfall is not due to a lack of institutional effort, logistics, or resources. The directorate had sufficient logistics, as highlighted by Public Health Nurse Patience Adoli Kporxah. Rather, the barrier was completely human: a lack of parental approval.
In Ghana, one of the top causes of cancer-related mortality for women is still cervical cancer. Ironically, it is also one of the most avoidable. The HPV vaccine is widely acknowledged as a safe, highly effective barrier that, when given early, can prevent up to 90 percent of cervical cancers.
Parents are unknowingly leaving their daughters vulnerable to a virus that they will probably come into contact with in the future by withholding approval.
This initiative was not initiated in secret by the health directorate. They coordinated with churches, mosques, and media outlets, spoke at Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) meetings, and sent letters to schools as part of their broad public outreach efforts. However, around 300 parents continued to withhold their signatures in spite of these multi-dimensional approaches.
Why is this resistance still present? Fear, cultural taboos, and false information about vaccines and reproductive health on the internet are the main causes of vaccine hesitation rather than an intent to hurt a child. When a vaccination is administered to young teenagers in schools, it may cause unjustified concerns about fertility and sexuality.
Our public health initiatives need to change in order to close this gap before the November and December phases.
Letters and the mass media are important, but they are unable to provide precise, worried answers. During PTA meetings, health staff could think about holding direct question and answer sessions so parents may express their worries without fear of being judged.
In order to normalise the vaccine, community elders, religious leaders, and reputable local physicians must do more than simply impart knowledge; they must openly support it.
We must present the HPV vaccine as a standard, life-saving cancer prevention tool that is now completely incorporated into Ghana’s regular immunisation programme.
The entrance is still open, according to public health officials. Daughters who did not participate in the school-based activity can still get the vaccination at no cost by taking them to any government health institution.
We must work together to prevent cervical cancer in the future generation. The infrastructure, education, and dosages have been supplied by public health teams. The trust must now be provided by the parents of Ayawaso West and Ghana as a whole.
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