Editorial
Insult in public space not good example for youth
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.
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.
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.
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.
Dear Editor,
It is often said that a healthy nation is a wealthy nation. However, this saying becomes worrying when the health of citizens is threatened by the conditions under which the food they consume daily is sold.
In Ghana, the conditions under which food is sold is quite disturbing. Over the years, I have observed that the environments where food is prepared and sold are often unhygienic.
In many cases, containers holding food such as rice and waakye are left uncovered or not properly covered, exposing them to contamination.
While many Ghanaians paid little attention in the past to the conditions under which food was sold, the narrative seems to be changing in recent years.
I recall an incident during my days in Senior High School (S.H.S.) when my friends and I went out to buy food. At one location, some of us chose not to buy because we assumed the food would be expensive due to how neat the place looked.
Unfortunately, we ended up purchasing food from a different place that was somewhat unhygienic. We overlooked the poor conditions because we believed the quantity offered was better than at the cleaner location.
However, I am certain that my friends and I would not repeat such a mistake today, as we now understand the health implications of that decision.
While public education is important in addressing this issue, I believe it is time for regulatory and law enforcement agencies, such as the Food and Drug Authority (FDA), to crack the whip on food sellers and vendors who operate in unhygienic environments and conditions.
As citizens, we must also be mindful of where we buy our food to protect ourselves and our families from diseases and illnesses. We should choose ‘quality’ over ‘quantity’ and prioritize our health.
From Syram
Oyarifa
Dear Editor,
I write to express concern and call for improved security measures before and after every football match.
The recent robbery attack that led to the tragic death of a player, on their return from a Match day 29 game against Samartex, is both shocking and heartbreaking.
The incident, which reportedly occurred around 10:30 p.m., highlights the growing risks faced by players and team officials while traveling.
Football is meant to unite and entertain, not to expose lives to danger. It is therefore imperative that authorities, the Ghana Football Association, and security agencies put in place adequate protection for teams, especially during late-night travels.
I strongly urge all stakeholders to treat this matter with urgency to prevent such unfortunate incidents from recurring.
From Eugene Ampiaw
Accra
