Editorial
Odeneho Kwafo Akoto III’s call apt!
I read in your sister paper the Ghanaian Times, of odeneho a story on Akwamumanhene, Odeneho Kwafo Akoto III, on Thursday calling for Ghana’s educational system to place emphasis on the promotion of customary rites as well as respect for culture.
According to him, it would enable future generations to understand and uphold the culture of the country while instilling leadership qualities in them.
Odeneho Kwafo Akoto III was speaking at the 60th anniversary celebration of Akosombo International School (AIS) in the Asuogyaman District of the Eastern Region on the theme “Educating tomorrow’s leaders today.”
While admitting the linkage between education and leadership, he acknowledged that it played key roles in the success story of some great personalities such as immediate-past UK’ Chancellor, Kwasi Kwarteng; former UN Secretary-General, Kofi Annan, former US President, Barrack Obama and Nelson Mandela of South Africa.
“Every one of these personalities was educated at some point in institutions where their skills were nurtured”
Odeneho Kwafo Akoto III, buttressing why educating future leaders is paramount indicated that, “we must do so because it is essential to our survival as a nation” and argued that “we cannot afford to wait until these young people become adults before attempting to instil leadership qualities in them.”
He further stressed on the importance of promoting academic excellence, indicating, future leaders must be educated to be financially savvy, able to manage sustainable businesses, utilising technology and embracing innovation.
This, he noted, would make them curious about the world and its diverse peoples and cultures.
“The successful leader of the future is a holistic one with advanced soft and hard skills, who can respond to the demand for global collaboration, adapting quickly to a continuously evolving world,”
All indications in the country suggest that we must make a collective effort to train children in their formative years so that they would grow into selfless responsible citizens of this country. Ghana’s future needs such leaders!
Grace Thompson,
Accra.
Dear Editor,
I wish to use this esteemed platform to urge the traditional councils of Osu and La to call for independent investigation into the recent demolition exercise at Kaajaano.
The exercise rendered hundreds homeless.
Information about the reason for the demolition has been scanty with those desiring to know feeding heavily on social media posts.
One particular name –Jato, has been associated with it but under whose instruction the exercise was carried is also not known.
Sadly, instead of getting to know who ordered the demolition and for what reasons, traditional authorities of Osu and La have been embroiled in a tug-of-war over ownership of the said land.
This is premature. At this moment, they should call for investigation into the exercise to know the people behind it.
When that is done, then discussions about the owners of the site can begin. That would end the posture of the two neighbouring town which has the potential to turn into something else.
Ataa Osa Mensah,
Osu
Dear Editor,
I wish to use your respected platform to draw the attention of the Bank of Ghana (BoG) to the behaviour of traders and some drivers about the use of lower denomination coins, specifically the 20 and 10 pesewas.
About two weeks ago, I read in your sister newspaper, The Ghanaian Times about this problem and the caution that followed from the BoG and some economic analysts.
The warning they gave was that the continuous rejection of the notes could create pricing problems which can eventually affect inflation.
I thought that would put to bed that practice or refusal to accept the coins when given out as change or use to pay for particular service.
Unfortunately, the problem still persist among traders, drivers, customers and passengers alike. Only last week, there was as altercation in the Accra Central area where a woman refused to accept five 20 pesewas note totaling one cedi.
As the argument continued, the trader decided not to sell to the customer again after by-standers explained to her that it was still a legal tender and those that refused it could become offenders.
This is an issue the BoG and other regulatory agencies must go and explain to the people and let them know that it is unlawful not to accept a currency that is still in use.
It nothing was done, it could create a much more serious problems.
Mary Osei Badu,
Swedru
