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If I were the President…
There are several pertinent issues that must be prioritised if we are to move forward as a nation and therefore if I were the President of the Republic of Ghana…
I would prioritise Town Planning and ensure that, an effective monitoring system of town planning officials are in place. Most of the problems associated with disasters in our country are linked to the haphazard manner structures are sited in the towns and cities across the country.
Flooding in some areas are attributed to the structures that are built on water ways so that when it rains, the flow of water is impeded and it builds up and start entering peoples’ homes, destroying property worth thousands of cedis. Roads also get flooded and occasionally lives are lost.
Stretches of highways get flooded and economic activities are affected due to long queues of vehicles that are generated because the roads becomes impassable for a long time till the level of the flood goes down.
In other instances, the vehicles are restricted to only one lane. The major cause of these floods along the highways are due to filling of wetlands along the highways that are supposed to trap the excess water from the communities, but have been sold to developers and have been filled up and structures built, something that could have been prevented if town planning officials had done their job.
The reported incidents of fire tenders not being able to quench fires, due to lack of access to the place where the fire occurred are countless. This is something that should not happen if efficient town planning is in place and the responsibility falls squarely at the doorsteps of the Town and Country Planning Department.
If I were the President, I would ensure that there would not be anything called ‘kayaye’ in this country. Why should young girls be deprived of the opportunity of pursuing their dreams by obtaining adequate education, in order to unleash their God given talents for their own benefit and the benefit of society at large?
When you go to places where these young girls and women sleep, they are basically condemned to a life of misery. There are numerous cases of attempted rape and teenage pregnancy and a whole lot that happen to these ‘kayaye’ which is clearly a blot on our drive as a country to promote the rights of the girl child.
A deliberate policy should be adopted to address this issue by enforcing the law that makes it compulsory for every child to be in school and also create the enabling environment up north, to motivate people to stay in their communities instead of moving down south for non-existent opportunities.
I would relocate the residents of Old Fadama and Agbogbloshie Market to enable work on the Odaw river beautification project to go on. The Accra Beautification Project which was to have happened by end of 2008 is still in limbo due to lack of political will.
Relocating residents and the market to Adjen Kotoku area, would help in decongesting the central business district of Accra and more importantly be a source of income generation for Accra Metropolitan Assembly.
The perennial challenge of how to resolve the budget deficit would be tackled by initiating an entrepreneurial drive through a closer collaboration between industry and the universities.
There are numerous research projects that have the potential to greatly impact our industrialisation drive but are gathering dust on the shelves in our universities.
The setting up of a system of collaboration between industry and academia, that will sieve through these projects, to identify those with potential for implementation, must be prioritised.
The need for regulating activities of religious leaders, to curtail a lot of anti-social behaviour that has characterised the activities of some so called Men of God, would be prioritised. An acceptable way of licensing must be introduced by a regulatory body, made up of the leaders of the established Orthodox Churches and the Charismatic Churches.
They would determine the promotion and therefore who qualifies to be called a Pastor,Bishop etc. instead of the current situation where people in what is known as one-man churches, ascribe titles to themselves. Such a regulatory body should be clothed with the powers to sanction pastors, whose behaviour goes contrary to sound doctrine.
A system that would reduce the discretionary power of the judiciary as much as possible, would be put in place. Legislation would be crafted such that sentencing of say drug offenders, would be made based on the amount of drugs in terms of weight found on the offender.
I would also ensure that there are undercover auditors who would attend court hearings to monitor the rulings of the judiciary to ensure that justice is served.
The cry for affirmative action would be prioritised and implemented. Legislation would be enacted to compel political parties to reserve most of their safe seats for women as the first step in ensuring enough representation of constituencies by women in parliament.
The positive impact of this on both the social and economic life of the country, cannot be quantified. Shelters for abused children and women would also be prioritised to help protect our women and children.
The funding of the NHIS must be prioritised to ensure a healthy nation to prevent the issue of service providers always threatening to withhold their services due to government defaulting on payment for services rendered. Infrastructure to enable implementation of Telemedicine would also be prioritised to ensure an effective health delivery system and also facilitate the acquisition of cutting-edge knowledge by our health practitioners.
The issue of accidents caused by vehicles left on the roads, would be a thing of the past. Furthermore, heavy trucks that are usually parked on the shoulders of highways, with mechanics working on them, spilling fuel and oil that gradually causes the roads to deteriorate, would also not be tolerated.
In fact, such negligence would be criminalised and offenders would be severely punished. I would ensure provision of rest areas so that such trucks can park off the road for the drivers to rest and also to fix mechanical problems they have so they would not have any excuse to use the main road for such activities.
Laud Kissi-Mensah
Introduction
In today’s fast-paced, high-achieving society, it’s common to glorify long hours and an unwavering commitment to one’s profession. However, when dedication turns into an obsession, it can have severe and far-reaching consequences.
Workaholism, a pattern of behavior characterised by excessive and compulsive work habits, is a complex and multifaceted issue that affects millions of people worldwide.
Defining workaholism: The Psychology behind the behavior
Workaholism is often driven by a combination of internal and external factors, including:
Internal Pressures:
Perfectionism: an unrelenting drive for flawlessness
Fear of failure: anxiety about not meeting expectations
Need for control: a desire to micromanage every aspect of work and life
External Pressures:
Job demands: high expectations from employers or clients
Organisational culture: a workplace environment that encourages or demands excessive work hours
Societal expectations: pressure to succeed and maintain a certain status
The health consequences: A growing concern
Prolonged workaholism can lead to a range of serious health issues, including:
1. Cardiovascular problems: hypertension, heart disease, and stroke due to chronic stress and neglect of physical health
2. Mental health concerns: anxiety, depression, and burnout, often exacerbated by lack of social support and self-care
3. Sleep disorders: insomnia, sleep deprivation, and related health issues, such as impaired cognitive function and mood disturbances
4. Immune system suppression: increased susceptibility to illnesses, such as colds, flu, and autoimmune diseases
5. Nutritional deficiencies: poor eating habits, weight changes, and related health problems, such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease
The lethality risks: A hidden danger
In extreme cases, workaholism can have lethal consequences, including:
1. Sudden cardiac death: increased risk due to chronic stress, hypertension, and neglect of physical health
2. Suicide: work-related stress and pressure can contribute to suicidal ideation, particularly in individuals with underlying mental health conditions
3. Accidents and injuries: fatigue and decreased cognitive function increase the risk of workplace accidents and errors
The social and emotional toll: Relationships and identity
Workaholism can also have devastating effects on personal relationships and overall well-being, leading to:
1. Strained relationships: family, friends, and colleagues may feel neglected, abandoned, or resentful
2. Loss of personal identity: over-identification with work can lead to a loss of interests, hobbies, and sense of purpose outside of work
3. Decreased productivity: burnout and decreased motivation can result in reduced job performance and satisfaction
4. Impaired cognitive function: decreased creativity, problem-solving, and decision-making abilities due to chronic stress and fatigue
Breaking the cycle: Strategies for recovery
Recognising the signs of workaholism is crucial to preventing its negative consequences. Strategies for overcoming workaholism include:
1. Setting boundaries: establishing a healthy work-life balance and prioritising self-care
2. Prioritising self-care: engaging in activities that promote physical and emotional well-being, such as exercise, meditation, and social connections
3. Seeking support: therapy, support groups, and social connections can provide emotional support and guidance
4. Re-evaluating priorities: reassessing values and goals to align with a more balanced and fulfilling life
Conclusion
Workaholism is a serious issue that can have severe and far-reaching consequences for individuals, organisations, and society as a whole. By acknowledging the risks and taking proactive steps to maintain a healthy work-life balance, we can mitigate the negative effects of workaholism and promote overall well-being.
By Robert Ekow Grimmond-Thompson
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How many times have we not made New Year resolutions but have not been able to achieve them?
When we are unable to achieve them we vow to ourselves that at the end of the year, we shall make proper New Year resolutions and this time we will make it happen only for the New Year to travel on and close to the end the story repeats itself.
A lot of people find themselves in this situation and if they were to rate their success, it may hover around 48 per cent. There is a popular quote that is generally attributed to Einstein that” Insanity, is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result.
“A careful analysis will most likely reveal that, the discipline required to put in the required effort and the consistency required is absent in the execution phase of whatever plan has been put in place to realise the objectives.
Discipline according to the Oxford Dictionary is the practice of training people to obey rules or a code of behaviour, with punishment or other undesirable consequences for those failing to comply.
When we say someone is disciplined, what can be observed in his behaviour is consistency whether it is in connection with reporting for events on time, providing a particular service as promised on schedule etc.
In other words, that behaviour has become routine or has become a habit. If 2026 is going to be different from the previous years, as far as the achievement of New Year’s resolutions are concerned, then things must be done in a routine manner which will then ensure consistency.
If the resolution is say a closer walk with God by the end of the year for example, then the plan may be to sleep early enough and be able to wake up at say 5:00 am and pray and meditate on the Word of God.
This must be done every day, that is, you should have the discipline to make this routine behaviour which some people refer to as habit and that is what would ensure the realisation of your objective by the end of the year.
The question of how did you arrive at your new year’s resolution becomes very important. It brings in the God factor, which for me as a believer is very important because if you are say an Entrepreneur, then innovate ideas are what you need and according to Deuteronomy 8:18, innovative ideas to get wealth comes from God.
I believe that to be able to achieve our new year’s resolutions, we must approach them with a project management mindset. We should break the year into periods, either quarterly or monthly and evaluate our performance.
The end of the periods we have chosen should mark the achievement of certain goals or key milestones. This will reveal to us whether we are on track, whether we need to double up or there is the need to adjust certain things.
This year start looking at potential hindrances to the achievement of your resolutions. Check how much time you spend on social media for fun, like following the Akosua Serwaa and Odo Broni story and not for learning something useful that can add value to your life.
On a personal level, I have started cutting the time spent on listening to news and debates on various media platforms and using the time to polish my German and French as one of my resolutions.
Yours may be the time you spend on the phone chatting with friends, so please watch it and adjust especially as a child of God, so you too can have a testimony to share on December 31, 2026, to the glory of God. God bless.
NB: ‘KOTOKA INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT TO KOFI BAAKO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT’
By Laud Kissi-Mensah
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