Editorial
Enough of bullying in schools
Dear Editor,
The death of a Senior High School (SHS) student, which reportedly was as a result of bullying at Konongo Odumase Senior High in the Ashanti Region, is still fresh on my mind. The sequence of the incident was not too clear but the reports indicate that the deceased was resisting bullying by his seniors.
As investigation into the incident continued, I have been wondering what the Ghana Education Service (GES) had been up to since this unfortunate incident. I have been expecting the GES to condemn and issue a stern warning against bullying but I am yet to find any concrete statement from them.
Many years ago, during my final year in Senior High School, our Headmaster was compelled to ban what we called “Nino’s Night” — an old tradition and a sort of an ‘unofficial’ welcome for first year students.
Some seniors, on that day, had plotted ‘revenge’ on some of the juniors and were ready to subject them to different forms of torture. When the teachers got wind of the plans they quickly took action and cancelled activities scheduled for the night.
Certainly, the Konongo Odumase incident had nothing to do with Nino’s Night but showed the extent to which some seniors would want to exert their authority on juniors.
I believe there are school regulations that proscribe bullying but it seems some students and teachers ignore them due to lack of enforcement.
It is time the GES introduced a policy document (if there is none) indicating zero tolerance for bullying in schools and must put measure in place to ensure such unfortunate incidents do not occur in future. We seem to have normalised bullying and must not allow the practice to fester.
My heart goes out to the school and family of the deceased while we wait patiently for details of police investigations into the incidents.
Pearl Adobea Otoo,
Asamankese.
Dear Editor,
The performance of the Black Stars of Ghana has plunged the entire nation into a joyful mood.
Very few people gave the team any chance at the World Cup but with the little they have shown, Ghanaians have shown massive support.
All the two matches they have played with England and Panama have been characterized by unending joy after the games.
Apart from the team’s performance, the theme song by Ghana’s ace musician, Kofi Kinata have taken the celebration to a new dimension.
The song resonates through every corner both match and non-match days. And when they are played through the large speakers, it gets both young and old dancing their hearts out.
This is a mood I wish Ghanaians would sustain for a long time to keep the unity and friendship among us. Within this period, politics have been relegated to the background and football dominating the discussion. This is what football can do, let’s keep it growing. For the Black Stars, we say ‘Ayekoo.’
Mawuli Quaye,
Accra
Dear Editor,
I have, over time, observed the growing practice of drying washed clothes on the pavements of some principal streets in Accra, as well as on the grassy medians of major roads.
This practice is often carried out by individuals who have made these public spaces their place of abode.
As a country that seeks to maintain a clean, orderly, and beautiful environment, I believe it is time for the government, through the relevant local authorities, to address this issue.
The use of pavements and road medians for drying clothes undermines efforts to promote cleanliness and urban beautification.
Furthermore, this situation could negatively affect Ghana’s tourism industry. Tourists who visit our country do not only come to see historical landmarks and tourist attractions; they also pay attention to the cleanliness, organization, and general appearance of our streets and public spaces.
The sight of clothes hanging on pavements and road medians creates an impression that is inconsistent with the image of a modern and welcoming city.
Equally disturbing is the practice of bathing children on road medians and street pavements. Apart from raising concerns about public hygiene and safety, such activities diminish the dignity and proper use of these public spaces.
As a concerned citizen, I believe that if we are truly committed to keeping our cities clean, attractive, and conducive to tourism and investment, then we must take decisive action.
Local authorities should enforce existing bylaws and regulations governing the use of public spaces and implement measures to prevent such practices.
By doing so, we can preserve the beauty of our cities and project a positive image of Ghana to both residents and visitors alike.
Kojo K,
Madina
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