Features
Intolerance
There has been a canker that has been growing gradually and eating at our moral fibre as a country and it has a name. It is called intolerance and if care is not taken, it will destroy this nation in the near future.
All across the city of Accra, and I tend to believe across the country, everybody seems to be in a rush to go somewhere, such that the usual Ghanaian attitude of demonstrating care for another person is gradually being lost.
When two people are approaching each other in a narrow alley, the usual or normal attitude is for the younger person to wait for the older person to pass before the younger person then moves.
The situation is changing and younger people are not observing this accepted normal practice in the Ghanaian society. Just go through the Okaishie area and use the narrow alleys connecting the various buildings housing the shops in the area and you would easily confirm this behaviour.
In traffic, the situation is even worse. Having given an indication that you want to turn either right or left onto the next lane due to a broken down vehicle blocking your way, especially on three lane roads, the driver of the vehicle coming from behind will not slow down for you to join his or her lane.
The few seconds that one driver can give to another so one can pass and the other would also move, usually results in collisions. Most of the collisions on the highways are as a result of such incidents.
On the highways, this display of intolerance graduates into madness, where some drivers decide to overtake more than one vehicle on a hill, when they cannot see ahead of them. If an oncoming vehicle happens to be speeding from the opposite direction, the obvious result will be a direct collision with its attendant loss of innocent lives.
Any observer of the debates on radio and TV would have noticed this phenomenon of intolerance running through every facet of our society. Panelist refuse to observe the ethics of discourse and interrupt other contributors in a manner that is so frustrating.
Instead of noting points of disagreement and offering a rebuttal when it is their turn to speak, they just keep on butting in to disrupt the train of thought of the one speaking. I was told of an incident at a studio of a radio station where a panelist was so incensed with the constant interjections by a co-panelist so much that he slapped him.
It is an unacceptable behaviour but if you put yourself in his shoes, you would not judge him harshly. On a number of occasions, I felt compelled, if it were possible to have entered the studios through the TV set to repeat what the gentleman did to his co-panelist.
In our social circles, this intolerance translates into unhealthy competition that has the potential of ruining people’s lives. The get-rich-quick mentality that is permeating our society must be urgently and seriously addressed.
This brings to mind the sad story, a few years ago of an incident at Kasoa, a suburb of Accra where two teenagers murdered their 10-year-old friend with the intention of using parts of his body for rituals to get money.
Everybody is in a rush to get ahead of his neighbour, friend, brother or sister regardless of the method used as if the world is coming to an end in the next couple of months. I do not know whether it is due to the difficult economic conditions prevailing in the country, everybody seems to be in a bad mood.
Any little disagreement turns into a quarrel of some sort. Parents snap at their children at the least provocation.
The religious leaders, opinion leaders, civil society etc. have a duty to preach tolerance to help address this behavioural menace afflicting our nation.
May God help us!
By Laud Kissi-Mensah
I experienced something on Monday, June 15, that really frustrated me. I had to go to the ministries but I could not get up early that day so I decided to pick a taxi and get to the Tuba Junction.
When I got there I realised that Traffic had built up from the Toll Booth towards Accra. After a while I got a Taxi and it was when we got to a certain spot on the road, that I realised why there was a traffic jam.
There is a short stretch of the road where each time it rains heavily, loose material run down the hill onto the road, blocking one side of the road. Vehicles from Kasoa to Accra are then forced to move into one of the lanes of those going towards Kasoa from Accra.
The two lane road from Accra to Kasoa becomes a single carriage way. That was the reason for the traffic jam from the toll booth onwards.
This has been a perineal problem and yet, no permanent solution has been found till date. The area falls under Ga South and even though, a new MCE has taken over, the technocrats are still there and so the problem is not new to them.
There is therefore no excuse for the inability of the Ga South Metropolitan Assembly to resolving the problem on that stretch of the road. Apart from the Ga South Metropolitan Assembly, another institution that must be held accountable is the Ghana Highways Authority.
The Highways Authority cannot say they are unaware of this issue. The fact that the problem falls within the area of responsibility of the Ga South Assembly, does not relieve the Ghana Highways Authority, of their responsibility of ensuring that our highways are maintained in a motorable state at all times.
A collaboration between the Ghana Highways Authority and The Ga South Municipal Assembly is required for a permanent resolution of the problem.
There was another traffic jam at a place called Atala about 250 metres to the traffic light at Old Barrier as a result of an issue similar to the one close to the toll booth, that I talked about earlier.
When we got to Weija junction, we encountered another traffic jam. The cause of this jam was a bad condition of road about 80 metres from the traffic light at Ga South Hospital heading towards Accra.
Due to the bad nature at that section of the road, vehicles are compelled to slow down resulting in a traffic jam stretching all the way to Weija Junction.
I started wondering if that short stretch of road cannot be sorted on one Sunday when traffic is usually light. When we got to the traffic light at Odorkor, there was another issue.
When the traffic light shows green, there is a slow down because there is a big pothole or should I say manhole in the outer lane, right at the traffic light. Vehicles in the outer lane are compelled to swerve into the second lane thereby causing a traffic to slow down and resulting in a traffic jam.
It is very important to take into account the effect of traffic jam on the national economy. If we are able to assess the value of the loss to the economy of the nation, I believe the issue of traffic jam will be prioritised.
Imagine persons working at various Government Organisations like Registrar General’s Department, Ghana Ports and Habours Authority, Ghana Revenue Authority, CEPS etc. and lives at Kasoa and whose job is to collect revenue for the state and is held up in traffic.
Just imagine the effect their lateness to work will have on the economy if you consider the delays in say clearing of goods at the port and as a result traders cannot sell their goods for government to generate the required taxes.
Let us deal with the traffic jams on our streets to promote economic growth. God bless.
By Laud Kissi-Mensah
Mortality is an inherent aspect of life, a universal experience that has sparked philosophical, theological, and scientific inquiry throughout human history.
This article aims to provide a comprehensive and nuanced exploration of mortality, acknowledging the complexity of the topic and the diverse perspectives surrounding it.
The biological imperative
From a biological standpoint, death is a natural part of the life cycle. It serves as a mechanism for the evolution of species, allowing for the passing on of genetic material and the adaptation to environmental changes.
Evolutionary perspective: Death allows for the recycling of resources, promoting the survival and adaptation of species.
Life span and senescence: Cellular aging and the limitations of biological systems contribute to mortality.
Philosophical and existential perspectives
Existentialism: Emphasises individual freedom and responsibility in the face of mortality.
Meaning and purpose: The finite nature of life can prompt individuals to seek meaning and purpose.
The human condition: Mortality is a fundamental aspect of the human experience, shaping our perceptions and values.
Cultural and spiritual views
Afterlife and spirituality: Many cultures and religions believe in an afterlife or spiritual continuation.
Rituals and mourning: Cultural practices surrounding death reflect the significance of mortality in human experience.
Legacy and remembrance: The impact of one’s life can transcend mortality.
Ethical considerations
End-of-life care: Ethical debates surround issues like euthanasia, assisted dying, and palliative care.
Quality of life: Balancing the value of life with the quality of life is a complex ethical issue.
Resource allocation: Societal decisions about healthcare and resource distribution involve considerations of mortality.
Psychological impact
Grief and loss: The experience of mortality can evoke profound emotional responses.
Fear and anxiety: The awareness of mortality can lead to existential anxiety.
Appreciation and gratitude: Recognising mortality can foster appreciation for life.
Conclusion
Mortality is a multifaceted aspect of human existence, influencing how we live, relate, and find meaning. Understanding and acknowledging mortality can prompt deeper reflections on life and our place in the world.
By Robert Ekow Grimmond-Thompson
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