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Lessons from Ukraine

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When Ukraine is mentioned these days, what readily comes to mind is war? Wars are not something that people relish, that is, rational people. It leaves a destruc­tion so devastating in its wake and there is nothing nice to ever cherish about it.

In the First World War, about 16 million people were killed and in the Second World War at least 50 million people were killed. The destruction of the world economy cannot be underesti­mated. The social cost was also quite astronomical.

A lot of soldiers returned home with various degree of injury. Some sol­diers were maimed for life, others had post-traumatic psychological issues and were never their former selves.

A little background to this Rus­sia-Ukraine war will be helpful for this article. Ukraine used to be part of the Soviet Union, which was a union of several states including what is cur­rently called Russia.

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After the breakup of the then Soviet Union, Ukraine became an indepen­dent country. However, when Vladimir Putin became President of Russia, he as well as a section of the population, felt a certain loss of esteem and if you like, the glory associated with the former Soviet Union.

In 1994, the Western powers led by the US forced Ukraine to agree to hand over its nuclear weapons to Russia and they were to guarantee Ukraine’s protection in what is known as the Budapest Memorandum.

Things begun to get ugly when coun­tries that used to be part of the Soviet Union, started to rid themselves of the influence of Russia. Putin was par­ticularly upset when the pro-Russian president of Ukraine was overthrown through a popular uprising of the people.

He then engineered a separatist move­ment in the Eastern part of Ukraine and brought in Russian soldiers to sup­port them to fight the Ukrainian Army. Russia later annexed Crimea, which is the Southern part of Ukraine, in 2014.

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Finally, when the US and its allies did nothing, it emboldened Putin to attack Ukraine in February 2022, in what has become known as the Russia-Ukraine War.

Here comes the thrust of the issue at the core of this article, namely lessons from Ukraine. A lot of people were shocked to hear or read that, Russia had attacked Ukraine and their soldiers have crossed the border into Ukrainian territory and were heading towards Kyiv, the Ukrainian capital.

I recall reading a story about former President Biden of USA sending a message to the Ukrainian President Zelensky that he is sending a plane to take him and his family out of Ukraine and his response has stuck with me.

He said “The fight is here; I need am­munition not a ride”. This bold state­ment invoked or rekindled the spirit of patriotism and galvanised the entire population into action, to defend their country with their lives.

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Later reports that surfaced, indicated that Putin thought he could conquer Ukraine within a few days, but the war has entered its fourth year now, due to Ukrainians resolve to defend their country, at all cost.

The war between Ukraine and Russia is like the Biblical battle between David and Goliath and so Ukraine should not have survived the might of Russia at all but they had something that the Rus­sians did not realise, which is determi­nation, arising from a winning mindset.

The will to successfully defend their country gave them overcomer’s mind­set and that is the lesson for us in this country. We need to have a mindset of overcoming challenges and the sky will be our limit. God bless

NB: ‘CHANGE KOTOKA INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT TO KOFI BAAKO INTERNATION­AL AIRPORT’

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By Laud Kissi-Mensah

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Ghana becoming a developed nation

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In a country like ours in which we are aware of our challenges, all that is required is focusing on strengthening our institutional processes by making them more robust and transparent. In this regard, investment in digitilisation must be prioritised since the human element to cut corners is inherent in the psyche of some people and therefore cannot be trusted to do the right things out of their own volition.

Enforcement of existing laws and regulations must be reviewed to see what is working, which ones have to be tweaked to be able to address current challenges, and those that have become obsolete and must be discarded.

One issue that needs to be given priority attention is remuneration. A former President is alleged to declare that we pretend to pay workers and they also pretend to work. This indeed sums up the quandary facing government after government. Workers’ salaries are crucial in the fight against corruption. A realistic living wage must be given to workers; otherwise, they will seek avenues to address their personal budget deficit.

On day one, what should engage the attention of government is Energy, making it available and affordable. The industrialisation agenda cannot be successfully executed without power that is readily available, reliable, and affordable. Solar energy must be factored in the quest for affordable and reliable power for industry.

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The fuel sector issues must be urgently addressed so that it can impact positively on the transportation sector, which plays a key role in the supply of goods and services. The railway infrastructure plan linking places like Boankra Inland Port to prolong the lifespan of our roads and to fast track distribution of goods from the Capital City to the inland areas of the country should be a top priority item.

A well-structured system linking industry to academia must be quickly established to serve as a catalyst towards the industrialisation drive. Research findings from the universities must be channelled to captains of industry in a timely manner. Effective channels of communication should be established to facilitate shorter product-to-market times.

An effective mechanism for fishing out needy but talented children must be established, as well as a sponsorship package for talented individuals who are needed for certain critical areas of the economy — what I term critical investment in education.

Certain changes must be made in the constitution, particularly the appointment of the heads of certain constitutional bodies or institutions. This is to ensure that the Executive arm of government does not wield too much power to ensure accountability and checks and balances really work.

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The Attorney General’s Office must be detached from the Executive arm of government. The Nolle Prosequi provision must also be amended to compel the Attorney General to give an explanation of why he or she is declining to prosecute a particular case or discontinue it. The provision that protects sitting Presidents from prosecution must also be reviewed.

The punishment for some of our laws needs a review. We must review the removal of CJ provision to ensure the independence of the Judiciary.

Above all, there must be a mindset of change, i.e., a paradigm shift from inability to capability. Inferiority complex must give way to a pacesetters mentality, and all will be well. God bless.

NB: KOTOKA INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT TO KOFI BAAKO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

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BY LAUD KISSI-MENSAH

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The impact of emotional surgery and emotional elysium on neurological and neurosurgical procedures

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Abstract
THIS comprehensive review aims to explore the impact of emotional surgery and emotional elysium on neurological and neurosurgical procedures. We examine the scientific literature on these approaches, including their definitions, theoretical frameworks, and applications. Our analysis highlights the potential benefits and risks of these approaches and discusses their implications for practice.


Introduction

Neurological and neurosurgical procedures are complex and delicate, requiring precision and accuracy to achieve optimal outcomes. Emotional surgery and emotional elysium are two innovative approaches that have the potential to enhance the success of these procedures. Emotional surgery involves the use of art and other creative techniques to promote relaxation and reduce stress, while emotional elysium focuses on cultivating positive emotions and promoting emotional well-being.


The Role of Emotional Surgery in Neurological and Neurosurgical Procedures

Emotional surgery has been shown to be effective in reducing anxiety and stress in patients undergoing neurological and neurosurgical procedures. By promoting relaxation and reducing stress, emotional surgery can help patients prepare for procedures, leading to improved outcomes and faster recovery times.


The Role of Emotional Elysium in Neurological and Neurosurgical Procedures

Emotional elysium has been shown to be effective in promoting emotional balance and resilience in patients undergoing neurological and neurosurgical procedures. By cultivating positive emotions and promoting emotional well-being, emotional elysium can help patients cope with the stress and trauma associated with these procedures, leading to improved outcomes and enhanced quality of life.

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Benefits of Emotional Surgery and Emotional Elysium

The benefits of emotional surgery and emotional elysium in neurological and neurosurgical procedures are numerous. These approaches can:

  • Reduce anxiety and stress: Emotional surgery and emotional elysium can help patients manage anxiety and stress, leading to improved outcomes and faster recovery times.
  • Improve emotional regulation: Emotional surgery and emotional elysium can help patients regulate their emotions, leading to improved mental health and well-being.
  • Enhance patient experience: Emotional surgery and emotional elysium can improve the patient experience, leading to increased satisfaction and improved outcomes.

Conclusion

In conclusion, emotional surgery and emotional elysium are two innovative approaches that have the potential to enhance the success of neurological and neurosurgical procedures. By reducing anxiety and stress, promoting emotional balance and resilience, and improving patient experience, these approaches can lead to improved outcomes and enhanced quality of life for patients undergoing these procedures.


Recommendations

  • Further research is needed: More research is needed to fully understand the benefits and risks of emotional surgery and emotional elysium in neurological and neurosurgical procedures.
  • Integration into practice: Emotional surgery and emotional elysium should be considered for integration into practice, as they may offer a valuable tool in the treatment of a range of neurological and neurosurgical conditions.

By exploring innovative approaches like emotional surgery and emotional elysium, we can improve patient outcomes and enhance the quality of life for individuals undergoing neurological and neurosurgical procedures.

BY ROBERT EKOW GRIMMOND-THOMPSON

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