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Editorial

Insult in public space not good example for youth

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The use of insults in addressing issues is gradually gaining root in the country and if this is not checked, it will affect the future generation.

Last week, there were a lot of reactions from the public following the dismissal of eight female stu­dents of Chiana Senior High School (SHS) in the Kassena Nankana West District of the Upper East Region.

The students in November last year, insulted President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo in a video which went viral expressing their frustra­tions over the severe hardships in the country.

While some Ghanaians commend­ed the Ghana Education Service (GES) for its decision to dismiss the students, others were of the view that the punishment was too harsh as it would jeopardise the future of the students.

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Fortunately, the President in­tervened by appealing to the GES to rescind its decision and resort to an alternative disciplinary action instead of dismissal.

Surely, the students are wrong and they must be punished but what punishment can they be given to serve as a deterrent to others?

Although The Spectator con­demns the conduct of the girls in its entirety, we commend the President for pardoning the students who ear­lier rendered an apology to him in another video showing remorse for their misconduct.

Prior to that, the GES also intervened and apologised to the President on behalf of the girls. The intervention is a step in the right direction and The Spectator hopes that this misconduct will not be re­peated by other students in future.

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The problem is, respect for the elderly is becoming a thing of the past which is worrying. Coupled with that, insult in public space is gradually gaining root in the country. Instead of discussing relevant issues some people rather resort to attack­ing their opponents with insults on various platforms, especially on the airwaves.

As Ghanaians, we should not be ignorant of the fact that the youth listen and watch whatever goes on in the country. Insult in public space is not a good example for the youth. It is not a surprise that the youth have imitated their leaders uncon­sciously and have resorted to the use of insults against the elderly.

As a country, we must check this before it becomes a canker else our future generation will show no respect at all to the elderly.

We need to be careful with our utterances to set a good example for the upcoming young ones. Even in instances of provocation, let us exercise restraint in our pronounce­ments and show respect to those in authority.

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Attacking your opponent with insults promotes violence which must be nipped in the bud. Let us eschew insults to promote peace for a better Ghana.

On the issue of the Chiana girls, The Spectator hopes that the youth will learn a lesson from the action taken against the girls and refrain from such misconduct. Students should not take the intervention made on behalf of the girls as an ex­cuse to engage in similar acts hoping that they will be pardoned.

It is unfortunate that (some­times) no matter how disciplined some parents may be, their chil­dren become recalcitrant. We urge parents to have control over their children and apply sound biblical principles in training them. In ad­dition, parents must monitor their children on the use of the social me­dia to ensure that it does not create problems for them.

It is our hope that the GES will revise some of the policies which, according to some teachers, make it difficult for school’s authorities to enforce discipline in schools for fear of being victimised.

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Editorial

No life should be lost over allegations

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Dear Editor,

The recent death of Nana Yaw, also known as Dinero/Terry, has left various communities deeply shaken over the circumstances under which a life was lost.

Reports suggest that he went missing after a phone transaction in Teshie and was later found dead. Allegations have circulated that he visited a female friend despite having a pregnant wife at home.

Even if such allegations were true, does that mean he deserved to die? The answer is no. Infidelity is a moral failing, but it is not a crime punishable by death. To suggest otherwise is to normalize violence and diminish the value of human life.

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This tragedy should remind us of the urgent need for justice and accountability. His family especially his expectant wife deserves compassion, not judgment. As a community, we must reject victim‑blaming and focus on preventing such senseless losses in the future.

Nana Yaw’s death is not just a personal tragedy, it is a call to action. 

We must demand thorough investigation, ensure those responsible are held accountable, and commit ourselves to building a society where disagreements and mistakes do not end in violence.

Princess Wonovi, 

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Editorial

Take quick action to rebuild Percheyire R/C Basic School

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The situation at Percheyire R/C Basic School in the Yilo Krobo district is a warning concerning Ghana’s rural education facilities as pupils in Primary four through six are forced to learn inside a building of mud walls, worn-out roofing sheets, and rotting wooden pillars.

It is more than just an infrastructural shortfall. It indicates a fundamental failing of public safety and educational justice. 

Every day, when pupils and teachers arrive at school, their safety is in danger because a school building has such fundamental flaws that it could collapse during a storm.

The classroom is now a hazard rather than a haven for learning for the 30 upper primary pupils and their teachers. A single extreme weather event could cause a mud construction to fall dangerously because it depends on makeshift timber pillars. 

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These children are routinely deprived of the instructional hours that the national curriculum promises them when the arrival of rain inevitably necessitates the suspension of classes to save lives, books, and furniture. 

A deeper systemic problem is revealed when Rev. Elizabeth Korasare, a former teacher, reveals that this identical arrangement has not changed in 38 years. 

Some proponents contend that local government institutions like the Ghana Education Service (GES) and the District Assembly are solely to blame for the main failure. Actual rehabilitation has been postponed due to administrative inactivity, despite official site visits and reports submitted by the school administration. 

According to this viewpoint, there is a problem with the way emergency educational funds are allocated and prioritised when a community school is left in a dangerous condition for decades while waiting for budgetary allocations.

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This point of view highlights the necessity of corporate social responsibility (CSR) programmes, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), and public-private collaborations. When state machinery fails, supporters contend that combining corporate money with citizen mobilisation provides a more flexible way to replace deteriorating structures.

It is a pity that Percheyire R/C Basic School’s surrounding infrastructure worsens the school’s structural deterioration. Children travelling from nearby communities like Togodo are severely restricted in their access due to an inadequate road network.

When more than 60 school-aged children in a single nearby town are cut off from regular attendance due to distance and bad roads, the school’s capacity to raise the district is substantially limited. A contemporary classroom block will only be successful if students can get there safely.

The lives of Percheyire’s pupils and teachers are at risk, therefore the Spectator is pleading with the Yilo Krobo District Assembly and other interested parties to rebuild the primary block.

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