Features
Routine maintenance and reliable power supply
One major problem in this country is lack of proper maintenance culture which goes to adversely affect the lifespan of facilities built across the country.
Many a time, facilities such as water systems, electricity systems, buildings, roads and many other facilities are not given proper maintenance, a situation which leads to a decrease in the lifespan of such projects.
MAINTENANCE OF FACILITIES
Indeed, if all facilities are given proper maintenance, it will go a long way to ensure that these facilities enjoy a long span of life instead of seeing them getting deteriorated within a short time. Maintenance culture is what we need to increase productivity in the sense that the few facilities available and established in various parts of the country maximise their efforts in terms of durability and positive contribution to socioeconomic development.
When facilities are maintained regularly, it helps to ensure that they last for a long time and help productivity in all sectors to be facilitated to increase to the highest level.
Currently, we have been told that the Electricity Company of Ghana and GRIDCO are carrying out maintenance on certain power facilities in various parts of the country. For this reason, certain transformers are being expanded and replaced so that the quality of power supply will be enhanced.
POWER OFFS
It is very irritating when we experience power offs in our areas of residence due to unreliable power supply and lack of maintenance. For this reason, we need to regularly carry out maintenance of these facilities so that power supply to various homes, offices and factories can flow uninterrupted and thereby make power supply very reliable and satisfactory. When this happens, power consumers in the country will be very happy because the quality of supply will be dependable and good.
It is in light of this that the ongoing maintenance of power facilities across the country must be commended by all those who understand the importance of quality and reliable power supply. Needless to say, properly maintained systems offer continuous flow of power even when it is raining. In many parts of the country, even when light rains are experienced, power supply becomes interrupted and sometimes goes off unexpectedly. On the contrary, under a properly maintained culture, it will be seen that the lighting systems will continue to stay as they are even when the rains set in.
It is, therefore, good that GRIDCO, ECG and others have found it necessary to maintain their facilities from time to time beginning from this time so that the power supply can be stabilised. Without constant maintenance, a reliable power supply cannot be guaranteed and as a result the quality of power supply will be disappointing to consumers who deserve to be given better treatment.
ONGOING EXERCISE
The ongoing exercise is good but should not be a nine day wonder. If it becomes a nine day wonder, the end result will be very disappointing to the dissatisfaction of all residents in this country.
It is, therefore, good that power supply systems are being maintained and where necessary old gadgets are replaced from time to time.
The ongoing maintenance is creating some problems in certain parts of the country. In certain places around Kumasi, Accra, the Central Region and many other parts, the power goes off from time to time due to the ongoing exercise of maintenance.
STABLE POWER
These are good in so far as they help to strengthen the system and make power supply more enduring and reliable.
In light of all this, we prefer regular maintenance culture of our power supply systems to the complete absence of maintenance which makes the facilities deteriorate at a faster rate. When the facilities are maintained regularly, they are able to perform better and last for a long time. All these result in quality and satisfactory customer service to the admiration of people in the country.
COMMENDATION
The management and staff of the power supply systems must be commended and appreciated seeing that the occasional power offs will be a thing of the past, thereby resulting in quality power supplies which will help promote rapid socioeconomic development in the country.
This is what is needed and so must be encouraged and supported by all well meaning Ghanaians.
PHENOMENON OF RISING PRICES
The world today is going through difficult economic and financial situation making it very difficult for all countries to control inflation and make life bearable for their people.
Prices have been rising persistently in all countries to such an extent that consumers are protesting at this unbearable development. Many governments have found it very difficult to appeal to their people to understand the situation. It has become very difficult for people to accept the situation because their incomes are fixed and remained the same while prices of goods and services keep escalating to unbearable levels.
RECORD- HIGH INFLATION
Throughout the world, inflation has hit its highest levels in recent times so the situation is not as pleasant as one may think. This can lead to political upheavals, disorder and insecurity in many countries. When things are difficult in this way with prices rising and rising, the end result will be the development of disaffection for the government in power.
The government in power must, therefore, be able to explain itself to its citizens in order to calm them down.
If this is not done, the disaffection may create chaotic situations which may end up worsening the plight of people in the country concerned.
UNFAVOURABLE SITUATION
It is for this reason that people must see the current era as an unfavourable situation that must be borne by everyone no matter how unpleasant the situation may be.
The current unfavourable economic trends have come about because of the outbreak of the COVID-19 which adversely affected all productive systems in the world. As a result of COVID-19, goods and services could not be produced in their desired quantities. This led to the shortage of certain goods in the market. The situation has been made worse by the sudden Russia-Ukraine conflict. Many strategic goods come from these two countries that are fighting each other. Items like fertiliser, raw materials for cement and many things are not able to come in the quantities expected thereby creating shortages in many parts of the world.
The two countries (that is Russia and Ukraine) control close to a third of the supply of crude oil in the world. As a result, oil prices have been pushed up far above the $100 mark.
SANCTIONS
The US and other western countries have applied certain sanctions against Russia to force that country to stop its invasion of Ukraine. These and many others have forced the oil prices to come down a little even though it is still above the $100 mark.
The prices of crude oil have fallen slightly but many countries are still suffering from the harsh effect of the rapid rise of goods and services throughout the world.
The high rise of oil prices has adversely affected other prices of goods and services pushing the world to a situation which has become very unbearable. As a result, many motorists for example, are not able to fill their tanks due to the escalating prices of crude oil.
HIGH FUEL PRICES
In the United States for example, we heard of stories where some motorists had to drive all the way to the US border with Mexico to fill the tanks of their vehicles since fuel price around that area is relatively cheaper.
Thus, in all the different continents in the world, life has become unpleasant. Indeed, many developing countries are suffering more from the rising prices in the world.
INFLATIONARY TRENDS
As has been pointed out already, inflationary trends in various parts of the world have reached their record high. In Ghana, the Ghana Statistical Service (GSS) has stated that inflation has reached 19.4 per cent. This is the highest ever recorded in Ghana over the past five or six years and it goes to show that even with the good management of the economy, inflationary trends have jumped high to a level that is not good for economic growth.
In spite of this, every effort is being made by government to come out with the best economic reforms for its people so that life can be made better for them.
UNPLEASANT DEVELOPMENTS
As a result of such unpleasant developments, the World Bank has revised the global economic growth rates. Previously, following COVID-19, the World Bank stated that global economic growth would be about 4.5 per cent and countries in the world thought that even though the figure was not good enough, it could be accepted as satisfactory so that from there, the world can grow at a higher level.
In view of the Russia-Ukraine war, economic situations have been worsened once again making economic growth and recovery more difficult. As a result, the World Bank has now revised the global economic growth rate from its previous more than four per cent to 3.1 per cent.
TOUGH ECONOMIC TIMES
As has been stated, the world today is experiencing tough economic times so governments that are doing well must be warmly supported by its people so that things will not be thrown out of gear for any political expediency on the path of any groups of people whose only agenda is to satisfy their own selfish and myopic interests.
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Pradmat2013@gmail.com (0553318911)
By Dr Kofi Amponsah-Bediako
THE state of feeling rejected, could be a terrifying experience especially for those who have become used to fame. If not properly addressed, it could lead to depression and the consequences, could be disastrous.
When you are on top of your game in whatever profession you find yourself such that you become famous, a lot of people try to associate with you. The phone never ceases to ring and one is tempted to feel loved and very important.
When a disaster strikes and the fame or the money which was the source of the attraction fades away, the circle of friends and fans begin to shrink and the phone will start to stop ringing until the call stops voting completely.
You will be shocked at how people you considered friends, will no longer be calling you or pay casual visits as they used to. You will begin to notice that messages you leave after calling them and not getting a response are not replied to and that is when you begin to know who your true friends are.
One of the most popular movie stars was an actress called Sharon Stone. In an interview with one of the media houses that was published, she spoke about how people who should have come around to encourage her in her moment of depression, shunned her. The calls stopped coming.
This is what the Bible admonishes that the arm of flesh will fail you and therefore we should put our trust in God. It could be a very frightening experience and can easily lead to depression.
Human nature being what it is, people will want to get close if things are okay. Everybody wants to associate themselves with interesting things, famous people, rich people etc for mainly selfish reasons.
We need to develop the habit of putting our trust in God and relying less on human beings. The lesson we have to take along in life is that, no one marries his or her enemy so how come people who took vows that they will love each other become so hostile to each other that they want to go their separate ways in life? Such is the reality of life.
It is therefore prudent for people to recognise that, life is full of uncertainties and so there is the need to prepare your mind for uncertainties so that when they occur, they do not disorganise your mental sanity.
A lot of people have experienced situations where people who they could have sworn will never betray their trust have disappointed them when they were through challenging moments.
If there is one thing famous people should desire, it should be the ability to identify who are true friends are. Countless stories abound regarding incidence of celebrities who have lost their shine and their wives divorcing them soon after.
It is sometimes useful as a famous or rich person to sign a prenuptial agreement before marriage to safeguard or protect yourself from any future unpleasant surprises.
People can be very pretentious these days, it goes both ways. There is this real life story where a man married a divorced wealthy woman and convinced her to sell her house so they could build a new one together, with the excuse that people are gossiping that he is being housed by a woman.
The woman agreed and they put up a new building. After a few years the man asked for a divorce, only for the woman to realise that the land on which the building was situated, was bought in the man’s name.
This can drive a person insane, if you are not mentally tough and this happens to you. When people hear that you are homeless, a lot of your so-called friends will stop calling, so that you do not become a burden on them.
By Laud Kissi-Mensah
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‘But, er …. I don’t even know your name’.
‘Paul. Paul Allotey. I’m Sarah, by the way. Paul, why don’t you leave me here, since this is the last important thing I’m doing today’.
‘Okay. Now Sarah. I was just thinking. You will be here at the cafe for about an hour. By then it will be about twelve thirty. Then, you would be thinking of buying yourself some lunch, to eat here or to take home. So if you would please allow me, I will take you to one of the nicest eating places in town, and after you have sorted that one out, then I can drop you home. Just that one errand, then I won’t bother you again’.
‘You are not bothering me at all. You are being very kind to me. And I just realised you are a mind reader too. The last item on my agenda was lunch’.
‘I’m so glad I appeared at your doorstep, just in time’.
‘Okay. Now Paul, since you say the cafe is a comfortable place, let’s go in together, and you can do your work while I get my application done’.
‘Okay, Sarah. Thanks. Let’s go’.
We got back in the car at eleven forty-five.
‘So where are we going, Paul?’
‘To Royalty restaurant. It’s a twenty minute drive away’.
‘So, do you enjoy your job?’
‘Most certainly. I won’t change it, not even to be President. And am I right to say that you are preparing to enter the university?’
‘That’s my plan. I hope it works’.
‘It will, if you are determined, and disciplined. You look very much like a disciplined person’.
‘Thank you very much’.
We arrived at Royalty in twenty-five minutes, ‘You are joining me for lunch, Paul’.
‘Thanks for the honour, Sarah. But the bill is on me’.
‘Aren’t you taking on too much for one day?’
‘I never do anything that is bigger than me, Sarah’.
Over the next hour and a half, we discussed fashion, local and international politics, and sports, as we ate and relaxed. Finally, he drove me to the shop.
‘I will never forget you, Paul’.
‘I’m glad to have been helpful. But if you don’t mind, I’ll say it again, your husband is extremely lucky. You are really beautiful’.
‘Thanks again. But do you mind if I call you sometime in the future?’
‘Certainly not. Let me write it here. I will not ask for your number, for obvious reasons. But I will be looking forward to hearing from you. And hopefully, I will see you next month, when I call to drop your bill’.
‘Okay Paul. See you then’. What a lovely day, I said to myself as I opened the front door. I closed the shop and got home by seven. I went straight to the bedroom, stood in the mirror and took a good look at myself. ‘You are a very beautiful woman, Sarah. Never forget that’. I will not forget that, again.
Over the next several weeks, Martin and I had very little to do with each other. In the morning he ate his breakfast and after a shabby ‘I’m going’, he left. He came home around eight at the earliest, ate his dinner and, already soaked in beer, went off to sleep.
He spent the greater part of the weekends at the club house with his friends, playing tennis and partying. My mind was focused on furthering my education, so I didn’t complain to him, and didn’t bother to inform my parents about what was happening. I had decided that I would only take action if he lifted his hand against me again. I spent my free time reading all manner of interesting stuff on the internet, and chatting with my sister on WhatsApp.
One evening, he came home at about eight, rushed to the bedroom and rushed out. An envelope, obviously containing money, dropped out of his pocket, and I picked it up and followed him. I was going to call him and give it to him, but I noticed that there was a young woman in the car, so I went back in, counted it and put it in a drawer in the hall. He came back after some ten minutes.
‘Excuse me, I dropped an envelope containing money. You must have seen it’.
‘Yes, I saw it. Actually, I followed you, and was about to call you and hand it over to you when I realised that there was a woman in the car, so I came back in. I counted it. One thousand cedis.
‘Well let me have it. I have to be going’.
‘I will let you have it if you will tell me who the woman in the car is, and why you are going to give her that amount of money’.
‘Listen, if you waste my time, I will teach you a lesson you will never forget. Give me the money now!’
‘Here’s what we will do, Martin. I know you will give money to her anyway, so I will give it to you, if you will withdraw the threat you just issued. But I want you to know that I will be taking some steps from tomorrow. Things are getting out of hand’.
‘Okay, I’m sorry I threatened you. Can you please give me the money’. I handed it over to him, and he ran out’.
The following morning, I waited for him to finish having breakfast, and told him I wanted to have a word with him urgently.
‘You better be quick. You know I’m going to work’.
‘Well, I want to inform you that I will inform my parents, and your parents, about the situation in this house. As I said yesterday, things are getting out of hand. You spend most of your time drinking. You get drunk every evening, and through the weekend. And you are also spending your time and money on a prostitute’.
‘How dare you? One more stupid word from you …’
‘Am I lying, Martin? You have just started life, yet you are behaving like a rich, elderly man who has already seen his children through university, and can afford a life of fun. As I said, I’m going to inform our parents. Maybe your parents can straighten you out before it is too late’.
‘Look, we can talk this evening. It’s nothing like what you are saying’. He walked away, shocked.
That evening, I was expecting to have a meaningful discussion with him, but his mother called early in the evening to offer me some ‘advice’. Her son had called to say that certain developments at home were disturbing him so much that they were beginning to affect his work.
And, ‘as a loving mother to her daughter’, she was advising me to submit to my husband, and support him in prayer, and not ‘drive him from home’. Men would always be men, and she was telling me ‘from experience’ that no matter how much time Martin stayed away from home, he would always come home to me.
She had been a young wife before, so she understood the challenges I was facing. So I could be assured that if I followed her advice, all would be well. And, of course, she didn’t allow me to tell my side of the story.
Martin came home very late, and very drunk. And from the next morning, he carried on as before. With some hesitation, I called my dad and told him all that had gone on.
‘Well, my daughter. I’m not going to say “I told you so”. I was only trying to protect you. So here’s what we’ll do. Continue doing the best you can, and try not to give him any excuse to harm you, but if things continue to deteriorate, I will take you back.
A couple of days later, my cousin Dinah arrived in Accra from Brussels, having completed her medical course. With Martin’s agreement, I went to Koforidua and spent a couple of days. I spent most of the time chatting about her experiences in the US, but we also discussed my relationship with Martin, and she endorsed Dad’s decision to take action if Martin’s behaviour did not change after two weeks Elaine informed Mom and Dad. We endorsed Dad’s decision to take action if there was no change in two weeks.
Dinah returned with me to Takoradi. Her plan was to spend a couple of weeks, and return to Accra to be posted. I called Paul Allotey, and asked if he would meet her for lunch and, if possible, show her some interesting spots. Delighted, he suggested that we meet at Royalty the next day.
I told Martin about it, to remove any possibility of future disagreement over ‘going out with men’.
‘It’s fine with me’, he said, ‘if, of all the people who could show your sister round this town, you chose a borla man. Doesn’t that indicate the kind of person you are?’
‘ First of all, Martin’, I’ve spoken to him a few times, and he comes across as a decent guy, so I think it is rather unfortunate that you are writing him off when you don’t know him’.
By Ekow de Heer
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