Editorial
Education on course but let’s fill the gaps
Ghana recently joined the rest of the world to mark the 5th International Day of Education. The Day makes countries to prioritise education to accelerate progress toward attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals.
January 24 was declared the International Day of Education by a resolution passed by the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) on 3rd December, 2018. This year’s celebration was on the theme “To Invest in People, Prioritise Education.”
As part of the event, some personnel from the United Nations and the Ministry of Education visited some selected schools in Accra to encourage the youth to take their academic work seriously in order to achieve their future aspirations.
This annual initiative is very beneficial since it serves as a reminder to children that much is expected from them with respect to their education.
Following the commemoration of this event, it is important that stakeholders in education focus attention on schools in deprived areas.
There are still many schools across the country that are lagging behind when it comes to provision of infrastructure and other facilities which could have complemented the right of pupils to quality education.
Some parents continue to earn meagre salaries and are, therefore, unable to meet all the educational needs of their wards. Child marriage and teenage pregnancy continue to undermine the efforts made in improving educational standards.
Indeed, the commemoration of the International Day of Education means we must identify and fill the gaps that still exist as we consolidate the gains made in the education sector so far. I wish to say kudos for how far we have come.
Yunusah Essandoh,
Achimota, Accra.
Dear Editor,
I wish to use this esteemed platform to urge the traditional councils of Osu and La to call for independent investigation into the recent demolition exercise at Kaajaano.
The exercise rendered hundreds homeless.
Information about the reason for the demolition has been scanty with those desiring to know feeding heavily on social media posts.
One particular name –Jato, has been associated with it but under whose instruction the exercise was carried is also not known.
Sadly, instead of getting to know who ordered the demolition and for what reasons, traditional authorities of Osu and La have been embroiled in a tug-of-war over ownership of the said land.
This is premature. At this moment, they should call for investigation into the exercise to know the people behind it.
When that is done, then discussions about the owners of the site can begin. That would end the posture of the two neighbouring town which has the potential to turn into something else.
Ataa Osa Mensah,
Osu
Dear Editor,
I wish to use your respected platform to draw the attention of the Bank of Ghana (BoG) to the behaviour of traders and some drivers about the use of lower denomination coins, specifically the 20 and 10 pesewas.
About two weeks ago, I read in your sister newspaper, The Ghanaian Times about this problem and the caution that followed from the BoG and some economic analysts.
The warning they gave was that the continuous rejection of the notes could create pricing problems which can eventually affect inflation.
I thought that would put to bed that practice or refusal to accept the coins when given out as change or use to pay for particular service.
Unfortunately, the problem still persist among traders, drivers, customers and passengers alike. Only last week, there was as altercation in the Accra Central area where a woman refused to accept five 20 pesewas note totaling one cedi.
As the argument continued, the trader decided not to sell to the customer again after by-standers explained to her that it was still a legal tender and those that refused it could become offenders.
This is an issue the BoG and other regulatory agencies must go and explain to the people and let them know that it is unlawful not to accept a currency that is still in use.
It nothing was done, it could create a much more serious problems.
Mary Osei Badu,
Swedru
