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Editorial

Queen Elizabeth’s funeral: Anything to learn?

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● Millions paid their last respect to the Queen

● Millions paid their last respect to the Queen

Dear Editor,

Special attention was on the United Kingdom in the last two weeks, following the passing of the nation’s longest-reigning monarch, the adorable Queen Elizabeth II.

She was laid to rest on the evening of Monday, September 19, 2022, after a well-coordinated state funeral, attended by world leaders and viewed by millions across the world.

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The depth of affection for the Queen was evident in the uncountable number of people who wrote tributes, took flowers and joined queues to pay their last respect. From start to finish, the funeral portrayed the personality, leadership, and the warm character of Her Majesty.

Monitoring some of the proceedings from September 8, 2022, when the Queen’s death was announced, up until she made her final journey home, I cannot help but express my admiration and highlight few observations made during the period in this letter.

First, I commend the local and international media for the extensive coverage provided. Clearly, such a historic moment reinforced the crucial role of the media in educating and providing up to the minute information to citizens.

I must admit that the reportage from various media outlets, including the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) was an eye-opener as they delved into the minutest and intriguing details of the British monarchy. The analysis and discussions were insightful and I continue to learn more and look forward to the reign of King Charles III.

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Ahead of the main event, I noticed the proclamation of the new King and the planning of the funeral was done in less than two weeks. All arrangements took a natural course and it did not appear as if people were taken by surprise.

The organisation of the funeral, I later learnt, was seamless because the ceremony and all other events had been rehearsed by the military ahead of time.

With over 2,000 guests at the funeral, security was tight as over 4,000 security personnel were deployed on the day. This implies there was a ratio of two security officials to one guest. Isn’t that worth commending?

When members of the public started paying their last respect to the Queen, queue management experts were able to accurately predict and warn other people from joining the long queue, indicating ‘latecomers’ may not be able to make it to Westminster Hall within the allotted time. This is another proof of the many things that were factored into the planning of the funeral.

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The ceremony was generally incident-free and everything returned to normal after the short period of national mourning.

Before I conclude my thoughts, I again observed that there was no special ‘funeral cloth’ for the Queen’s funeral; mourners were in any decent black outfit. Elsewhere, an ‘Abusuapanyin’ would have ‘selected’ a funeral cloth and spent hard-earned currency procuring same just because it is a ‘royal funeral.’

I must say we are good at planning and organising state funerals and other kinds of funeral our own way but there is certainly something to learn from the Queen’s funeral. We can pay the needed respect to the departed without wasting time and resources.

Frank Adutwum,

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Kpong, Eastern Region.

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Editorial

No life should be lost over allegations

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Dear Editor,

The recent death of Nana Yaw, also known as Dinero/Terry, has left various communities deeply shaken over the circumstances under which a life was lost.

Reports suggest that he went missing after a phone transaction in Teshie and was later found dead. Allegations have circulated that he visited a female friend despite having a pregnant wife at home.

Even if such allegations were true, does that mean he deserved to die? The answer is no. Infidelity is a moral failing, but it is not a crime punishable by death. To suggest otherwise is to normalize violence and diminish the value of human life.

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This tragedy should remind us of the urgent need for justice and accountability. His family especially his expectant wife deserves compassion, not judgment. As a community, we must reject victim‑blaming and focus on preventing such senseless losses in the future.

Nana Yaw’s death is not just a personal tragedy, it is a call to action. 

We must demand thorough investigation, ensure those responsible are held accountable, and commit ourselves to building a society where disagreements and mistakes do not end in violence.

Princess Wonovi, 

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Dansoman

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Editorial

Take quick action to rebuild Percheyire R/C Basic School

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The situation at Percheyire R/C Basic School in the Yilo Krobo district is a warning concerning Ghana’s rural education facilities as pupils in Primary four through six are forced to learn inside a building of mud walls, worn-out roofing sheets, and rotting wooden pillars.

It is more than just an infrastructural shortfall. It indicates a fundamental failing of public safety and educational justice. 

Every day, when pupils and teachers arrive at school, their safety is in danger because a school building has such fundamental flaws that it could collapse during a storm.

The classroom is now a hazard rather than a haven for learning for the 30 upper primary pupils and their teachers. A single extreme weather event could cause a mud construction to fall dangerously because it depends on makeshift timber pillars. 

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These children are routinely deprived of the instructional hours that the national curriculum promises them when the arrival of rain inevitably necessitates the suspension of classes to save lives, books, and furniture. 

A deeper systemic problem is revealed when Rev. Elizabeth Korasare, a former teacher, reveals that this identical arrangement has not changed in 38 years. 

Some proponents contend that local government institutions like the Ghana Education Service (GES) and the District Assembly are solely to blame for the main failure. Actual rehabilitation has been postponed due to administrative inactivity, despite official site visits and reports submitted by the school administration. 

According to this viewpoint, there is a problem with the way emergency educational funds are allocated and prioritised when a community school is left in a dangerous condition for decades while waiting for budgetary allocations.

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This point of view highlights the necessity of corporate social responsibility (CSR) programmes, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), and public-private collaborations. When state machinery fails, supporters contend that combining corporate money with citizen mobilisation provides a more flexible way to replace deteriorating structures.

It is a pity that Percheyire R/C Basic School’s surrounding infrastructure worsens the school’s structural deterioration. Children travelling from nearby communities like Togodo are severely restricted in their access due to an inadequate road network.

When more than 60 school-aged children in a single nearby town are cut off from regular attendance due to distance and bad roads, the school’s capacity to raise the district is substantially limited. A contemporary classroom block will only be successful if students can get there safely.

The lives of Percheyire’s pupils and teachers are at risk, therefore the Spectator is pleading with the Yilo Krobo District Assembly and other interested parties to rebuild the primary block.

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