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List the weights and get rid of them
A careful analysis or observation, will reveal to us that most of the time, we are our own enemies when it comes to why we fail to accomplish our New Year Resolutions.
Human nature being what it is, anytime something goes wrong in our lives, we immediately start looking for who is to blame other than ourselves. We usually think that somebody caused it; a careful analysis however, will most of the time reveal that, we are responsible for things going wrong.
There are a lot of distractions that we allow to sway us off track. These distractions that shifts our focus is what Apostle Paul talked about in Hebrews 12:1 that”… let us lay aside every weight and the sin which doth so easily beset us…” KJV.
So long as we continue to attribute our failures to others, other than ourselves, the vicious cycle of failure to achieve our New Year Resolutions shall continue to plague our lives.
The weights which the Bible admonishes us to lay aside, are things that has become like habits and so are difficult to let go. We need to be brutally frank with ourselves and list the things that in our view hindered us from realising our objectives for the previous year.
It is only through such an exercise, that our weights can be easily identified and efforts made to address them. There is a saying that insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result. It is therefore important to change our ways by doing some corrections in our daily routine otherwise, the year will end and we will be back to square one.
Honest appraisal of oneself, is key to towards the process of ensuring the right identification of the weights that hindered us the previous year. A close friend or a family member can also be helpful in identifying the weights as well as the sins, since to achieve our resolutions, we need to maintain a balance in both our secular and spiritual lives.
The tendency for attributing mishaps, disasters etc. that happen in people’s lives as Africans and especially as Ghanaians, can never help us until we take responsibility.
lf we think that what is happening is being influenced by something or somebody, we can never vary our style to realise our dreams. The distractions could be the time we spend on social media, on TV, not for the acquisition of a new skill but just for entertainment.
After listing the issues that became a setback to the realisation of objectives for the year, we have to prioritise them and identify how we are to deal with each of them. Some may require further studies, acquisition of certain skills, exercise of self-discipline and discarding of certain habits.
That is the way to go in ensuring that resolutions for this year are achieved. If a resolution is say deeper spiritual interaction with God, the discipline to pray at specific periods during the day, the study of the Bible regularly and for a specified period of time, as well as specified period of meditation on the Word of God, must become routine.
The key to the realisation of our resolutions this year, will be to establish the discipline to ensure that the things we need to do becomes routine. That is the way to make our dreams a reality.
The objectives must be broken down into months, then down to weeks and then to a daily routine, and must be religiously observed.
Instead of thinking of the Devil and the evil things he does, we should rather focus on God and his mighty power walk in faith to accomplish our goals and objectives i.e. our resolutions, this year.
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The state has closed its case in the Republic v Akonta Mining and two others.
The case was heard earlier today at the Accra Criminal Court, where state prosecutors and CID investigators from the Ghana Police Service closed the Republic’s case.
In all, the prosecution called three witnesses to prove its case, two former employees of Akonta Mining Company Limited and a detective from the Ghana Police Service.
According to an update on the case, the two former employees testified to Mr Bernard Antwi-Boasiako’s deep involvement in Akonta Mining Company’s alleged illegal mining activities in the Tano-Nimiri Forest Reserve.
The police detective tendered in evidence drone footage and other audio-visual materials and official communications in support of the testimonies of the two former Akonta Mining employees.
The accused persons, through cross-examination of the witnesses, sought to dissociate themselves from every mining activity in the Tano-Nimiri Forest Reserve.
At the close of the prosecution’s case, counsel for the accused persons asked the court to allow him to call the first prosecution witness back into the witness box for further cross-examination.
The court gave him up to Friday, October 30, to file a formal motion to recall the witnesses.
The case has been adjourned to November 4 for the motion to be heard.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
Dr Palgrave Boakye-Danquah, spokesperson to NPP Ashanti Regional Chairman Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, has called on the government and Parliament to undertake major reforms in Ghana’s prison system, including the construction of a dedicated prison hospital and the introduction of regulated conjugal visits.
In a press statement issued on Tuesday, October 27, 2026, Dr Boakye-Danquah shared Chairman Wontumi’s observations and recommendations following his remand on July 20, 2026.
According to the statement, Chairman Wontumi’s experience in prison has given him the opportunity to interact with prison officers and inmates and observe the challenges facing the Ghana Prisons Service.
The statement noted that the NPP chairman believes the correctional system must move beyond punishment to focus on rehabilitation, welfare and productivity.
One of his major concerns is the lack of dedicated, well-equipped prison hospitals, ambulances and standby generators in several prison facilities.
Dr Boakye-Danquah said Chairman Wontumi had raised concerns about the difficulties in providing medical care to seriously ill inmates, including those suffering from tuberculosis.
He is therefore calling for the construction of a modern prison hospital to serve facilities across the country. In the interim, he has proposed emergency arrangements with the 37 Military Hospital and the Police Hospital.
On the welfare of prison officers, Chairman Wontumi has urged the government to review their salaries, accommodation and conditions of service.
He has also called for proper classification of inmates, arguing that minor offenders should not be housed alongside armed robbery convicts and that persons facing trial for serious offences, including treason and terrorism, should be appropriately separated from other inmates.
The statement further highlighted concerns about the need for counselling and behavioural support for young inmates, particularly those serving sentences for defilement-related offences.
Chairman Wontumi has also called for a clear policy on the classification and management of LGBTQI+ inmates within the prison system.
On family relationships, he has proposed the creation of designated private areas where prisoners can receive visits from their spouses and children.
He believes regulated conjugal visits could help preserve marriages, reduce tension among inmates and support rehabilitation.
“The prisoner is the one in prison, not the children or spouse,” the statement noted, explaining his position on the need to protect family relationships during incarceration.
Chairman Wontumi has appealed to the Ministry of Food and Agriculture to support prison farms with the necessary equipment to improve food production.
According to the statement, the Ghana Prisons Service has access to vast lands and skilled labour but faces a shortage of agricultural equipment, with only one tractor reportedly available for farming and garbage-related activities.
He has further proposed greater collaboration between prison authorities and the justice sector, suggesting that regional prison commanders should be included in relevant discussions because of their knowledge of prison conditions and inmate rehabilitation.
On infrastructure, Chairman Wontumi has called on the government and private sector to invest in modern prison facilities and factories, arguing that the system has seen limited structural improvements over the years.
Appeal to Parliament
Dr Boakye-Danquah said Chairman Wontumi had made a special appeal to Parliament to lead efforts towards comprehensive prison reform.
He is urging the Speaker of Parliament to initiate discussions on prison conditions as a human rights and national development issue.
He has also called on the Majority and Minority caucuses to work together to pass a new Prison Reform Act and approve funding for a dedicated prison hospital, ambulance services, standby generators and agricultural equipment.
Additionally, he wants the Parliamentary Select Committees on Defence and Interior, Health, and Food and Agriculture to undertake working visits to prisons across the country to assess conditions firsthand.
According to the statement, Chairman Wontumi believes bipartisan cooperation between the Majority and Minority caucuses is necessary to secure the legal and financial reforms required to improve the prison system.
He has called for broader prison reforms across Africa, expressing hope that Ghana could lead the continent in improving correctional facilities.
Reflecting on his experience since July 20, Chairman Wontumi stated: “At this experience since July 20th till date, prison doesn’t reform as it should be. I pray that the entire Africa will learn from Ghana.”
The statement added that Chairman Wontumi remained in high spirits.
By: Jacob Aggrey
