Editorial
Celebrate Christmas in moderation
THE Christmas season is here again and throughout the world Christians will observe it by reflecting on the birth of Jesus Christ to remind them of the mystery of the incarnation – God taking human form in humility and sacrificial love.
It is a season of love, joy and peace with solemn observation reflecting on the importance of the Lord Jesus Christ who was offered to mankind to save the world.
The countdown to the festive occasion has already begun, as Ghanaians gear up to celebrate the festive season in style. As part of the festivities, there will be fun-filled activities where families, friends, loved ones and communities will meet to share food, drinks and dance together.
Reports from The Spectator team who visited the Accra Central Market indicated that there were heavy traffic congestion affecting parts of Accra, leaving many stranded outside shops that opened late. For many, the inconvenience of traffic was seen as part of the season’s tradition.
According to the reporters, “the traffic in town is just chaotic and motorists are being stuck for hours on major roads leading to the city’s commercial districts, while pedestrians struggled to navigate overcrowded sidewalks.”
Across the country, people are rushing to acquire gifts, decorations, foodstuff, and all the trappings of the season.
It is unfortunate that while Christmas should be observed in the spirit of solemnity, some have turned it into a season of engaging in all kinds of untoward behaviour, drinking excessively and spending lavishly which eventually drains their pockets.
The Spectator wants to urge celebrants to observe Christmas in moderation to avoid any chaos. We also advise drivers to be careful on the roads while pedestrians and passengers should be cautious.
Let us not forget that January is a lean season which appears to last longer than expected as people would be expectant to receive their January salaries.
The season calls for love, peace, joy and service to mankind so let us share whatever we have with others, especially the needy to make Christmas more meaningful.
We wish our cherished readers a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year in advance.
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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.
