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Let us be very careful
It appears some people are bent on creating chaos in this country. It is either they have no idea of the consequences of what they are trying to initiate or are just so naive that they have not really taken their time to assess the impact of what they seek to achieve on the whole country.
Those of us who have received eye witness accounts of the civil war in Liberia, we would never wish for any chaos in this country. The coup that ushered in the AFRC and its aftermath, is something that any sane person would never want to have repeated, ever.
My late uncle, may his soul rest in peace, was a retired military officer and he narrated what he saw in Rwanda and it was horrible. Therefore for anyone to attempt to initiate acts, that has the potential of disturbing the peace of this country is really disturbing.
A post on social media suggesting the need for a particular region along the coast to obtain independence from Ghana and create a country on its own, brought to mind the civil wars in Liberia and Rwanda.
There is the need to regulate well what can be allowed, in the social media space, otherwise there is a realistic probability of chaos in this country. What is the point of trying to promote secessionist ideology among people of an area which is an integral part of this country called Ghana.
These acts are the causes of all the civil wars we have witnessed over the time on our continent. A reckless radio comment started a ‘fire’ in Rwanda that ultimately engulfed the whole of Rwanda.
The consequence, was the loss of about 800 thousand human beings, through senseless massacre, resulting from that statement that dehumanised a section of the population.
What terrifies me is that, there has been comments of tribal connotations that has the potential of causing civil strife by creating tribal tensions in this country and authorities and opinion leaders, must condemn them in no uncertain terms.
Another issue that must engage the attention of all well meaning Ghanaians is the competition of insults that seems to be engulfing this country. The social media space has been turned into an arena of competition of who is who, in vulgarism.
The kind of things that some people are able to say on social media, against revered leaders in this country, is simply mind boggling. It is alleged that some of them are sponsored by powerful politicians and opinion leaders.
What is troubling is that if anything bad happens in terms of civil strife, these politicians have the means and connections to escape the chaos with their families.
In fact a lot of them have their families outside the country and it will be you and I, the so called average Ghanaian, who will be the ones who are going to be negatively impacted, together with our families.
We are grateful that we have a culture of peace loving in this country but we should not take it for granted. Ghanaians are human beings and therefore are prone to emotional influences and corresponding reactions and therefore we ought to be very careful.
During the Liberian civil war, some of the gang leaders were former Pastors. This should tell you that certain painful events can cause the most peaceful person, to become violent beyond imagination. Those allegedly sponsoring Mr. K T and Madam GJ on social should stop it before it affects all of us because the way Madam GJ is going, it has overwhelmed Mr. KT and decency must prevail; we are not animals.
A word to the wise is enough. Let us enjoy our peace and see what the Lord has in store for us as individuals and as a nation. God bless.
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I saw a video of two young men mistreating a guy in school uniform. The manner in which a man in a white shirt was stamping on the head of the student on the ground and kicking him, was heart wrenching. It was like a scene from an action movie.
Comments in the video made me to understand that the two people engaged in the dastardly attack on the chap on the ground were teachers. How teachers who had been trained by teacher training institutions could do what they did, defies logic; simply mind boggling.
This brings the issue of screening of would-be teachers to mind. Is there a psychological vetting system in place to identify unsuitable characters like those two teachers so that they are barred from being teachers or are helped to have the right mindset as teachers? We cannot continue to let the status quo remain and expect a different result.
Digitalisation of the economy has brought in its wake a whole lot of ways that seeks to address pertinent socio-economic issues. One of them is the introduction of the TraffiTech-GH system of regulating traffic flow without human intervention.
This clearly is an innovative way of enforcing compliance which obviously would ensure discipline and therefore safety on our roads. The drivers are raising some issues which are legitimate and must be addressed as soon as possible or should I rather say immediately.
If a Bus Stop is occupied by traders and therefore the drivers cannot stop for passengers to alight or board, they would have no option than to park in the road, blocking traffic flow, which would be an offence that TraffiTech-GH would capture as a violation and punish accordingly, by imposing a fine.
A very sad incident occurred last week resulting in the senseless murder of an uncle and her niece in the Greater Accra Region. The story making the rounds on social media was that, the uncle took a loan from the suspected murderer but failed to honour his obligation to pay back the money.
The suspect accompanied by a lady, went to the residence in the Sakumono area and a heated argument ensued, resulting in the suspect shooting the Uncle and her niece in the process. The first question that came to mind was that “Why did they not allow patience to carry the day?” If it is true that the uncle indeed owed the man, he ought to have maintained a certain demeanor that portrayed a willingness to pay the money and not to enrage the suspect in any way.
Again, if someone owes you, you do not take the law into your hands by going to confront him with a loaded gun in your pocket. The proliferation of small arms must be given serious attention.
The leaders in the educational sector need to sit up to address the misbehaviour of both students and teachers, especially the teachers who have been sexually harassing students. The fallout, in the recent Obuasi Senior High School (SHS) issue, has been an official statement directing teachers not to ask students to work in their bungalows.
This code has been in the books of the Ghana Education Service (GES) all this while. It is nothing new and so like everything else in this country, the issue is not the lack of laws but the enforcement. What I find surprising is that after breaking this code of ethics, the GES has not sacked the notorious Headmaster who evidence has been established beyond reasonable doubt that he had grossly flouted this regulation, repeatedly. This is a gross failure on the part of leadership, from the ministry level down to the school level. This must not be allowed to repeat itself. God bless.
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Implant-based reconstruction recovery
Implant reconstruction is generally less invasive during the initial phase, allowing for a quicker return to baseline daily activities.
Initial healing window: Most patients resume light, non-strenuous daily tasks within 2 to 4 weeks.
Activity Restrictions: Heavy lifting, intense upper-body exercises, and high-impact movements are typically restricted for four to six weeks to allow the chest tissues to secure the implant or expander.
The expansion phase: If a temporary tissue expander is used, recovery includes periodic office visits over several months where the surgeon gradually adds sterile fluid to stretch the skin.
Physical therapy focus: Gentle arm and shoulder stretches begin early to prevent stiffness, frozen shoulder, and tight scar tissue formation around the implant pocket.
Autologous (Tissue-Based) reconstruction recovery
Autologous reconstruction (such as a DIEP flap) is a more complex, major operation because it involves two distinct surgical sites: the reconstructed chest mound and the donor harvest area (usually the lower abdomen).
Initial healing window: Requires a hospital stay of two to five days, with an overall recovery period of six to eight weeks before resuming normal routines.
Donor site management: Because abdominal muscles or tissues are involved, patients must avoid bending, twisting, or lifting anything heavier than a gallon of milk for at least six weeks to protect the deep facial repairs.
Mobility milestones: Recovery starts with short, gentle indoor walks immediately after surgery to promote circulation and prevent blood clots, gradually building up distance each week.
Physical therapy focus: Postural retraining and cautious core re-engagement once the surgeon gives medical clearance, ensuring the abdominal wall heals securely without strain.
Essential rehabilitation practices
Regardless of the chosen surgical path, effective physical therapy incorporates specialised techniques to restore physical freedom:
Scar mobilisation: Professional massage techniques to soften surgical scars and prevent tight binding of underlying tissues.
Lymphatic drainage: Gentle massage protocols to reduce swelling and encourage fluid movement through the lymphatic pathways.
Let’s pull together everything we have talked about into one simple, easy-to-understand guide.
Here is a summary of the complete journey-from understanding what breast cancer is and busting myths, to managing emotions and navigating surgery and recovery.
1. Is surgery a “cure”?
What it means: A mastectomy (removing the breast) is a powerful tool to take out the local tumor, but it isn’t an automatic, guaranteed cure on its own.
The Example: Think of it like pulling a weed out of a garden. You got the main plant out, but if tiny seeds or roots already spread elsewhere in the soil, you still need extra care (like medication) to make sure they don’t grow back.
2. The cancer’s “personality” (Biomarkers)
What it means: Not all breast cancers are the same. Doctors test the cancer cells for specific “locks and labels” (like hormones or proteins) to figure out how fast they grow and what medicine will stop them.
The Example: It’s like figuring out what kind of fuel a car engine takes (gasoline, diesel, or electricity) so you know exactly how to fix or run it.
3. Busting common myths
The Reality: Many rumors about breast cancer are false.
Men can get breast cancer too (about one per cent of cases) because everyone has a small amount of breast tissue.
Most lumps are harmless (like a harmless pebble in your shoe, not a dangerous nail).
Underwire bras and deodorants do not cause cancer.
Most people diagnosed (about 85 per cent) have no family history of it, which is why regular checks are vital for everyone.
By Robert Ekow Grimmond-Thompson
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