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COVID-19: My layman’s take
I am not a scientist. Indeed, many things in science make little sense to me but once I trust Research Scientists to be doing the right things for humanity, I am minded to accept their findings and live by their recommendations. I remember one advert on television in London in late 1975 which said, “An egg a day keeps the doctor away.” Now, years later, we are told eggs contain such cholesterol levels that they must be taken in moderation.
What might have happened to those who took an egg a day for many years? Were the doctors kept away all those years? It looks like our scientists cannot easily make up their minds. Then comes the dreaded COVID-19. Again, our scientists are struggling to make up their minds on what this pandemic presents. They cannot agree on the distance between people so as not to get infected or infect. Some even say one does not need to get close to another to get infected and that the virus is in the air.
Sadly, the virus does not come like ‘kakai’ where one could parry it away. However, the conspiracy theories seem to gather more currency than the scientific ones. No sooner had the virus broken than we were told some 5G masts were said to be responsible. Another had it that some devilish individuals want to control the minds of all humanity and put us under their spell. Yet some say Bill Gates and his wife, Melinda, want to use the virus as a ruse to get blacks vaccinated so they cannot have babies to populate the world anylonger. They say there is no truth in this COVID thing at all.
I am made to understand that the corona virus is not a living organism and so can only linger on certain surfaces for a certain number of days or hours and die. Only on copper surface can the virus die instantly. Granted that this is true, we are not told how long it will linger in the system of a person who dies of the virus. I state this because bodies of those who die of the virus are not released to their families for fear of infection. My layman’s question is: if I am dead and cannot breathe, cough or sneeze, how do I get my handlers infected? Or does this virus stay in the corpse till it decays?
I hope my dear readers are not getting more confused than me. Granted that all the conspiracy theorists are up to some mischief, there is one fact that I know; and that is Nature does not forgive. I will explain this shortly.
I had gone shopping at a supermarket in the Bronx area of New York City in July of 2012, and at the vegetables section I saw the labels stating which were organic and which were genetically modified. The labelling was to allow the customer a choice. In fact, the GM ones looked more lush and appealing than the organic ones which, to all intents and purposes, were more expensive. By reflex, I muttered under my breath, “Are we safe?” A baritone voice responded behind me, “We aren’t safe, brother.”
I turned to face a hulk of a bearded giant staring down into my face. With a hand like the paw of a bear, he took mine and introduced himself as a Professor of Biochemistry in one university and had been researching into certain organisms I cannot readily recollect now. He stated that genetically modified (GM) foods are so pure that the natural antibodies that help to boost our immune system to fight ailments are eliminated. The effect, therefore, is that absolute dependence on GM foods exposes us to infections unless immune boosters are produced for regular consumption. This information, to me, was as frightening as it was revealing.
I told my Professor friend that I was a trainer of Journalists in a university in Ghana and promised to spread his word. He was grateful as I was as we parted company and I picked my organic foods and went my way.
It was clear to me from then on that because of profit and the desire to rake in megabucks, people set out to use technology to create ‘problems’ for humanity. These GM organisms do not have the natural seeds to grow, so the farmer is compelled to buy the seed from these biotech firms for planting all the time. This is a total dependency syndrome.
Now, back to COVID-19 and Nature’s Law: Have we noticed that there are more reported cases of the virus and deaths in the advanced societies? Their scientists cannot understand why Africa has rather low case levels and deaths. We are made to understand that this virus attacks the immune system, not so? So, here comes my “Layman’s Take.” Because majority of those out there live on GM foods, their immune system is compromised and cannot combat the effects of the virus; death is inevitable.
However, here in our parts we cannot afford to even buy the GM seeds so we depend on the organic farming methods to feed our population, thus building the antibodies to fight the virus. Therefore, it is highly likely that more people in Africa have had the virus than anywhere in the world but are not showing symptoms at all, which makes it probable that I might have contracted this deadly virus many times over and recovered without even knowing that I contracted it in the first place. This may be because we do not as yet have the capacity to mass-test our populations. This is possible, isn’t it?
I am of the conviction that nature is only exacting its ‘punishment’ on mankind for using technology to violate its laws. Of course, the question will arise as to how come Africa has recorded deaths from COVID-19. Could the answer simply be that those are people with underlying conditions? As I stated earlier, I am no scientist and cannot propound scientific theories to support my thinking, but if I have by this article touched on why Africans are not dying in the streets as predicted by Melinda gates, I guess scientists and their technology partners are hereby challenged to look at our food and food sources the world over.
Only recently, about a dozen players and officials of Kumasi Asante Kotoko Football Club were said to have tested positive for the virus in Sudan. They looked healthy while training with no symptoms. Even after the positive tests, none has shown signs of illness. They are back home doing as well as they left. That’s the point I seek to make.
Is Africa doing something right?
However, Ghanaians seem to take the risk lightly and are going about their duties as if nothing ever happened. The country might face another lockdown if stringent measures are not taken to enforce safety protocols.
PS: I wish it is just a plain rumour that testers are charging GH¢500.00 to declare otherwise infected people negative. Else I will appeal to National Security to conduct an investigation into the claim making the rounds.
By Dr. Akofa K. Segbefia
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Attention-Deficit or Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is often mistaken for laziness or indiscipline. In consulting rooms across Accra and in reports from school teachers, the pattern repeats: children who are bright but forgetful, parents who feel helpless, teachers who see incompleteness.
Research is clear-Barkley (2015) and others describe ADHD as a difference in the brain’s regulation of alertness, impulse and working memory, not a lack of effort.
The family’s role begins with structure. Regular sleep, predictable meal and homework times, and a simple visual list (uniform → books → water → corridor) provide the external scaffolding of these children need. Praise what is completed—“You opened the book and wrote the first sentence”-instead of rebuking what is missing.
Schools can help by seating the child front-row and centre, giving short written plus verbal instructions, allowing brief movement breaks, using quiet nonverbal cues and, where possible, grading effort and method as well as neatness. These adjustments reduce conflict and raise submission rates without lowering standards.
Couples and caregivers should share roles: one grounds, one pivots, and both protect rest. Shame-“bad parenting, bad child”-needs replacing with fact: different wiring, needs scaffolding.
Outcomes improve not by promises of perfection but by daily routines, clear limits and warmed connection. One homework slot kept, one instruction chunked, one calm repair after blurting-these small wins shift the family climate and let the child be seen beyond the label.
Resource
• CPAC (award-winning Mental Health and Counselling Facility): 0559850604 / 0551428486
Source: REV. COUNSELLOR PRINCE OFFEI’s insights on special needs support, relationships, and mental health in Ghana. He is a leading mental health professional, lecturer, ADR Expert/Arbitrator, renowned author, and marriage counsellor at COUNSELLOR PRINCE & ASSOCIATES CONSULT (CPAC COUNSELLOR TRAINING INSTITUTE) – 0551428486 /0559850604.
WEBSITES:
https://princeoffei22.wixsite.com/author
https://princeoffei22.wixsite.com/website
After two weeks of hectic activity up north, I drove to the Tamale airport, parked the car at the Civil Aviation car park as usual, paid the usual parking fee and boarded the plane for Accra.
Over the last two weeks, I had shuffled between three sites where work was close to completion.
One was a seed warehouse, where farmers would come and pick up good quality maize, sorghum and other planting material.
The other was a health facility for new mothers, where they were given basic training on good nutrition and small scale business.
And the third was a set of big boreholes for three farming communities.
The projects usually ran on schedule, but a good deal of time was spent building rapport with the local people, to ensure that they would be well patronised and maintained.
It was great to be working in a situation where one’s work was well appreciated. But it certainly involved a lot of work, and proactivity. And I made sure that I recorded updates online before going to bed in the evening.
When the plane took off, my mind shifted to issues in Accra, the big city. The young guys at my office had done some good work. They had secured five or six houses on a row in a good part of the city, and were close to securing the last.
When we got this property, unusually, Abena greeted them casually, and appeared to be comfortable in the guy’s company.
I was quite disappointed to hear that, because until the last few weeks, it seemed as if Abena and I were heading in a good direction. Apart from the affection I had for her, I liked her family. I decided to take it easy, and allow things to fall in whatever direction.
Normally I would take a taxi to her house from the airport, and pick her up to my place. This time I went to my sisters’ joint, where they sat by me while I enjoyed a drink and a good meal.
“So Little Brother,” Sister Beesiwa said, “what is it we are hearing about our wife-to-be?”
“When did you conclude that she was your wife-to-be? And what have you heard? I’ve only heard a couple of whispers. Ebo and Nana Kwame called to say that they have seen her in the company of—”
“Well said Little Brother,” Sister Baaba said. “By the way, Nana Kwame called an hour ago to ask if you had arrived because he could not reach you. Someone had told him that Jennifer had boasted to someone that she had connected Abena to a wealthy guy who would take care of her.”
I was beginning to understand. For some time, Abena had been asking me what work I was doing up north, and after I had explained it to her, she kept asking. So I think Jennifer fed her with false stories about me in order to get her to move to the Ampadu guy. Jennifer must have been well compensated for her efforts.
“In that case,” Sister Beesiwa said, “you should be glad that Abena is out of your way. She is easily swayed. Anyone who would make a relationship decision based on a friend’s instigation lacks good sense. I hope the guy is as wealthy as they say?”
“Who gets wealthy running a supermarket chain in Ghana?” Sister Baaba said. “Our supermarkets sell mostly imported products. Look at the foreign exchange rate. And remember that Ghanaians buy second-hand shoes and clothes. Supermarkets are not good business here. Perhaps they are showing off that they are wealthy, but in reality they are not doing so well.”
“Amen to that,” I said. “I’m beginning to understand. For some time, Abena had been asking me what work I was doing up north, and after I had explained it to her, she kept asking. So I think Jennifer fed her with false stories about me in order to get her to move to the Ampadu guy. Jennifer must have been well compensated for her efforts.”
She said that David Forson was only an agricultural extension worker in the north who did not have the resources to take care of a beautiful girl like her. And apart from being wealthy, the guy comes from an influential family, so Abena had done much better leaving a miserable civil servant like you for him.
“Amen to that,” I said. “I’m beginning to understand. For some time, Abena had been asking me what work I was doing up north, and after I had explained it to her, she kept asking. We would be able to sell all five houses to one big corporate customer, and we had already spoken to a property dealer who was trying to find a buyer in order to get a good commission.
That was going to be my biggest break. I had asked the boys to look for a large tract of land on the outskirts of the city where we could develop our own set of buildings, blocks of storey houses and upscale apartments. Things were going according to plan, and I was quietly excited. However, things were not going so well regarding my relationship with Abena.
My buddies Ebo and Nana Kwame had called to say that they met Abena and her friend Jennifer enjoying lunch with a guy, and Ebo believed that Jennifer was ‘promoting’ an affair between Jennifer and the guy. They were of the view that the promotion seemed to be going in the guy’s favour, because only an agricultural extension worker in the north who did not have the resources to take care of a beautiful girl like her.
And apart from being wealthy, the guy comes from an influential family, so Abena had done much better leaving a miserable civil servant like you for him.
“As I’ve already said, I will stop by her place, but I will mind my own business from now. Hey, let’s talk family. How are our parents? And my brothers-in-law? And my nephews and nieces? Why don’t we meet on Sunday? I’m going to drop my bags at my place, and go to see Mama and Dad.”
