Editorial
Instilling cultural values in our children
Culture is distinct, and its observation is what preserves the identity of any group of people in any country.
Cultural elements include language, food, shelter, ways of dressing, and the way we speak and behave, among others. It is important for parents to encourage their children to speak the language of the family into which they are born.
Many parents, sad to say, would rather encourage their children to speak foreign languages at home, especially English in Ghana. There is nothing wrong with speaking English at home, but we must note that, coming from a certain background, we should rather prefer to speak our local language at home.
Ghana is a multilingual country, with more than 80 languages spoken by various ethnic groups. Our local languages identify us as a group of people who are different from non-Ghanaians.
Thus, we should be proud of our ability to speak different Ghanaian languages such as Akan, Ewe, Dagbani, Ga, Dangme, Dagaare, Kasem, Nzema, Gonja, Gurune, Konkomba, Wala and Nkonya. These and other languages are Ghanaian and must, therefore, be spoken without shame.
We should not think that speaking English is superior to our Ghanaian languages; we need to be proud of our local languages. Again, we must not just learn how to speak languages but also educate ourselves on how to write them.
It is the reading and writing of these languages that will make us different from other peoples in and outside Africa. This issue is important and must not be taken lightly.
In addition, we must be proud of our food. Some delicious Ghanaian foods are banku or etsew, fufu, akple, mpotompoto, konkonte, and tuo zaafi. Other dishes are gobe or yor ke gari, waakye, fomfom, ampesi and apaperansa, among others.
The way we dress as Ghanaians is also important. We need to cover our bodies well, not exposing any part, such as the breast, or wearing ear rings when we are men. Ear rings are meant for women.
Our cultural dances must be learnt well, too. Dances such as adowa, kete, apatampa, kpanlogo, borborbor, abgadza, bamaya and klama, among others, must be encouraged among our children.
Moreover, cultural or traditional greetings must also be encouraged. These are the things we need to encourage to bring discipline to our society.
It is the absence of these cultural values that has resulted in indiscipline in our society today. Foreign culture is good, but we need to promote our own values to show the world that we have our own identity as a people.
Our cultural values are important, so we must all make conscious effort to instill them in all aspects of our behaviour so that our children or young people can live decently.
In addition to the severe flooding that Accra is already experiencing a major sanitation crisis is imminent as the Kpone dump approaches closure.
Currently, there are now just two significant disposal sites in the area: the Adepa dumpsite in the Ga West Municipal Assembly, which is close to Amasaman, and the Kpone Waste Landfill.
Inquiries so far, revealed that the Kpone site is almost at capacity and will likely close in the next six months. As a result, waste is accumulating at local markets and municipal collection points throughout the capital.
The situation has been made worse by the recent terrible floods, and immediate action is required to prevent the impending crisis.
The fundamental issue is that accumulating uncollected waste during rainy seasons poses significant threats to public health, including the possibility of cholera, typhoid, and malaria outbreaks.
Subsequent investigations showed that the Kpone plant, which was initially built to manage 500 tonnes of waste per day, has been handling almost twice that much, shortening its lifespan.
Many towns’ waste collection operations have been badly impacted by this looming shutdown, and the fact that Accra has few disposal choices is even more disturbing.
Now, waste collection vehicles face abnormally long queues at the Kpone site, and residents complain that most of the tricycles, referred to as “Aboboyaa,” leave rubbish uncollected in residential and commercial areas.
Although the Zoompak waste transfer station was authorised by the government to reopen in order to help manage daily waste volumes, it is still unable to handle the enormous volumes of waste generated every day.
According to Dr. Peter Kwesi Dagadu, Managing Director of the Landfills Company Limited, managing the capital’s expanding waste burden has become extremely difficult due to the scarcity of disposal facilities, especially in light of the city’s fast population increase and rising waste production.
As a result, the situation has put a great deal of strain on the infrastructure already in place and jeopardizes attempts to keep Accra’s waste management system sustainable and effective.
The Spectator agrees with him that new infrastructure for disposing of waste is desperately needed, as a change to a more environmentally friendly waste management techniques.
It is admirable that he suggests Ghana adopt recycling and garbage recovery as a long-term solution to the nation’s sanitation problems.
We therefore, implore the government to support this recycling objective by enacting strict laws, regulations, investments, and enforcement measures to enhance waste management nationwide.
In order to address the waste problem as quickly as possible, everyone must be involved, including private waste management companies, individuals, and households.
Dear Editor,
I wish to express concern over the allegations that some officials of the Ghana Football Association (GFA) demanded money from players before they are selected for national teams.
If these allegations are true, then, they threaten fairness and integrity in Ghana football.
Just as is done in other countries, selection into any national team should be based solely on merit -talent, discipline, hard work and performance, not on a player’s ability to pay money.
Such practices, if allowed to continue, will discourage many talented but less privileged players from pursuing their dreams. It will also damage the reputation of the GFA and reduce public confidence in the country’s football administration.
Those reports are quite unfortunate but some of us want to believe in the response issued by the FA but would also advise the GFA to conduct some investigation, because like it is often said, there is no smoke without fire.
If it means an individual is going about making such demands on the blind side of the FA, such an investigation can expose the person.
I therefore urge the GFA to investigate these allegations thoroughly and transparently. Any official found guilty should face the appropriate sanctions. At the same time, individuals making the allegations should provide credible evidence so the truth can be established.
Ghanaian football belongs to all of us, and we must protect its integrity by ensuring that merit, transparency and accountability guide player selection.
From John Boateng,
Mamprobi
