News
Female engineering student dreams of building cars
Priscilla Otumfuor Mustapha, 21, is a Level 200 Higher National Diploma Automobile Engineering student at Ho Technical University (HTU), with big dreams.
“I have plans to start moulding my own brand of vehicles in six years,” she told The Spectator in a chat at the campus recently.
This was after the HTU-Japan Motors Trading Company Vehicle Service Centre was commissioned on campus.
According to Priscilla, her father who deals in heavy duty trucks and trailers made a positive influence on her.
“I have always loved cars from my childhood and wanted to know more about cars and so I often spent time drawing cars and carriages,” she said.
She intimated that Ghana needed more women in the area of engineering and said she would convince as many girls as possible to venture in to such area.
Priscilla noted that “when boys go into catering at school no one makes fun of them, but when girls go into engineering everybody sees them as though they had made awkward choices.”
However, she said that the negative comments from some people, including some of her course mates, such as “boy girl” and “man woman” do not deter her, stressing “I want to make a difference and prove the skeptics wrong,:
The pretty young woman who speaks English, French and Twi, said that she loved playing football, singing and dancing in addition to drawing.
A member of the International Central Gospel Church, Rhema Temple at Medie in Accra, Priscilla said that she already had the models of the cars and heavy-duty vehicles she would come out with in the future.
Spectator: tell me more about them.
Priscilla: For now, that is my industrial secret.
Spectator: What massage do you have for the younger ladies outside there?
Priscilla: They must study diligently towards a bright future. They must remain focused on their career dreams. Women are serving as Generals in the army, women are flying aircraft, women are playing football, so women can design and mould their own cars and do whatever men can do.
From Alberto Mario Noretti, Ho
Muslims across the country celebrated this year’s Eid-ul-Adha in a colourful and spiritually uplifting atmosphere under the theme, “A Season of Sacrifice, Solidarity and Spiritual Renewal.”
The celebration brought together Muslims from diverse backgrounds in a remarkable display of faith, unity and cultural heritage.
The occasion was marked by special Eid prayers at various designated grounds, the slaughtering of rams in homes for sharing among family members, friends and the less privileged, as well as musical concerts and recreational activities including horse riding.
Leading the celebration was the Chief Imam, Dr Sheikh Osman Sharubutu.
While the national celebration was held at the Black Star Square where President John Dramani Mahama was the Special Guest of Honour, similar gatherings took place at different centres across the capital and other regions of the country.
A visit by The Spectator to some celebration grounds revealed Muslims, both young and old, elegantly dressed in colourful jalabiya and other Islamic attire, reflecting the rich culture and traditions of the Muslim community.
The celebration also portrayed the spirit of religious tolerance and peaceful coexistence in the country, as a number of Christians joined their Muslim counterparts to mark the occasion.
Muslim leaders and government officials used the opportunity to call on the faithful to uphold the teachings of the Holy Quran, renew their spiritual commitment and refrain from acts capable of undermining the peace, unity and security of the nation.
They further urged Ghanaians to continue to live in harmony and support one another for national development.
By Linda Abrefi Wadie
Dear Obaa Yaa,
During Eid-ul- Adha celebration, I decided to spend the weekend at my boyfriend’s place since we were planning towards our marriage.
To my surprise, what keeps me wide awake, restless and frustrated every single time is that he snores loudly like a generator running on full power, and I genuinely cannot get any rest
At a point, I thought it was just a normal thing, but I have realised it is something he does with ease and doesn’t see anything wrong with it.
When he steps out in the morning, I try to get enough sleep because I may not sleep in the evening.
The most annoying thing is that, he always wants to cuddle me. These two things are a no for me and a red flag.
We are about to get married, what should I do?
Enam, Keta.
Dear Enam,
The snoring and constant cuddling are frustrating, but you don’t have to choose between sleep and closeness.
Start with the snoring: check if it’s worse when he sleeps on his back, cut out alcohol before bed, try nasal strips or a humidifier, and see a doctor if he pauses while breathing.
For quick relief, foam earplugs or noise-cancelling headphones help a lot.
Separate blankets, a bigger bed, or sleeping apart on some nights often makes couples rest well and feel closer overall.
Bring this up before the wedding .Tell him you want to wake up next to him for years to come, but sleep deprivation makes you both miserable.
Test earplugs and side-sleeping this weekend, and if it’s still unbearable, bring in a doctor. Good sleep matters more for your marriage than staying glued together all night.
