Editorial
Christmas is here with us again
So soon, the Christmas season is here with us again, and it is difficult to believe that the year 2022 has travelled over 12 months within this short time.
The season is a period of joy because during this time, people are expected to celebrate the Saviour of the World and share gifts with friends and loved ones. It is an occasion during which everyone is expected to share in this joy and make us happy.
This explains why we tend to wish one another the best of luck and happiness. This warm season must be shared by all, irrespective of whether those we share it with happen to be our friends or not.
It is equally important to share the peace and love of the season with all political actors. We may belong to different political parties, but we need to respect one another irrespective of differences in political views and beliefs.
At the same time, we need to ensure that vicious attacks are avoided as much as possible. This is because clean politics requires that decent language be used whenever we are expressing our views. The situation in which vicious attacks are launched on political opponents in order to destroy them must be avoided.
What is more, the use of social media to mount attacks on our political leaders as well as parliamentarians must be avoided. Hiding on social media to attack people we perceive as political enemies is the most unfortunate thing to do at this point in time.
Rather, we should show respect to one another and offer constructive criticism so that together we can build our country into a great nation. This is what we need to do at all times.
Christmas is a period of love, which must be extended to all people in this country and outside, irrespective of their status in society.
Showing love to one another means sharing our gifts with those around us. It is true that economic conditions have made life unbearable.
In spite of this, we must show love to everybody and stand firm so that we can have one united front against our common enemy, which is poverty and squalor. We need to come together and make every effort to overcome all the difficulties we are facing in this country and the rest of the world.
We must always remember that “where there is life, there is hope.”
Merry Christmas to all our readers!
Dear Editor,
Walking along roads in some parts of the capital has become increasingly challenging.
While trading on pedestrian walkways remains a concern in certain areas, the parking of vehicles on road shoulders also poses a serious risk to pedestrians.
Often, pedestrians are forced to walk dangerously close to these parked vehicles or even step into the middle of the road to make way for oncoming traffic.
This situation is not only frustrating but also highly unsafe.
I recall an incident when I alighted at a lorry station and was walking home. A Tata bus was approaching, and due to vehicles parked on both sides of the road, I had nowhere to walk safely.
The situation became so dangerous that I had to quickly jump into a nearby shop to avoid being knocked down by the oncoming Tata bus.
That experience was frightening and could have easily resulted in an accident.
In my view, it is time for authorities in the road sector, such as the National Road Safety Authority and the Motor Traffic and Transport Department (MTTD) of the Ghana Police Service, to take urgent action to address this issue and prevent possible loss of life.
Strict enforcement measures, including towing improperly parked vehicles and imposing substantial fines, would serve as a deterrent to offenders.
From Ray
Adabraka
Dear Editor,
I wish to use this column of your respected newspaper to appeal to the Ministry of Education and the Ghana Education Service to consider bringing back the practice where students stayed home for some months after completing the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE).
Within that period where they stay home for some time and wait for their results, it afforded parents some time to prepare and save towards the next move in the academic life of their children.
In recent times, students are quickly admitted into Senior High School immediately after their examinations, leaving little time for parents and guardians to adequately prepare financially and emotionally for the next stage of their children’s education.
Many parents, therefore struggle to buy school items such as chop boxes, trunks, mattresses, uniforms and other necessities within the short period given.
This situation places pressure on families, especially those with low incomes.
Previously, the break after BECE allowed students to rest after years of academic work while parents and guardians made proper preparations for their wards.
It also gave students enough time to learn vocational skills, assist their families and mature before entering boarding school life.
Bringing back this period will greatly reduce stress on both parents and students and help ensure better preparation for Senior High School education.
And one other thing we have not taken notice of is that within that period, parents also prepare their children mentally and psychologically before they go to school. They are thought how to be independent.
So we see new secondary students displaying an appreciable level of maturity which is missing in this era where they go to senior high schools and still behave like primary school kids.
I hope the authorities will carefully consider this concern in the interest of students, parents and guardians across the country.
By Eugene Ampiaw,
Accra.
