Editorial
Controversy over National Cathedral is needless
Since the announcement by the President that there is a need to put up a National Cathedral, opinion has been divided over the matter.
While some people are opposed to it, others have expressed support in favour of this project. Each of these groups of people has adduced reasons as to why they support the project or are opposed to it.
Those who oppose it have argued that economic conditions today are not favourable for which reason raising sums of money for the project is not necessary.
Those who support the project have also argued that a cathedral in the life of a nation is very vital for socio-economic development of a country like Ghana for which reason the project must be undertaken.
These different shades of opinion keep emerging in the country from time to time. While others are passionately concerned with the building of the cathedral, others are seen to be playing politics with the issue.
No matter how one looks at it, the project which has started already and is ongoing cannot be stopped at this point in our national life. For this reason, it must be continued to its logical conclusion. Seeing it in this light, various sections of the population must come together to support this project instead of demonising it.
An investment in form of a cathedral stands the chance of coming out with numerous benefits. Some of the benefits are the provision of various platforms for worship. Other benefits will be availability of rooms for seminars and workshops on the word of God as well as Bible studies and also history of the Church, among others.
Again, the National Cathedral will serve as a symbol of unity to bring Ghanaians together in the worship of God among Christians and even non-Christians. Moreover, it will serve as a tourism site for both Ghanaians and foreigners who may want to learn more about facilities in the cathedral.
It is also important to note that the Cathedral will serve as a huge edifice that will give employment to hundreds of people in the country.
Thus, apart from its religious significance, the project will boast of non-spiritual benefits which will go to promote national development. It, therefore, behooves all Ghanaians, whether Christians or not, to come together to contribute their quota for the successful completion of this noble project.
It is a form of huge investment which will never go to waste but rather bring about numerous spiritual and non-spiritual benefits to the nation. Let all Ghanaians remain united to ensure that the project is executed in time through generous contribution.
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.
