Editorial
See something, say something
When we talk of national development, it depends on each and every person in the country, whose contribution is very necessary for the good of all.
The country comprises various regions, and each region deals with an institution that plays a crucial role in its area of operation. The country as a whole depends on the contribution of each institution.
Similarly, the economy is also made up of various sectors. Each sector also plays useful roles that contribute in one way or another to the general growth of the country.
Some of the sectors are agriculture, transportation, mining, electricity, building and construction, health, transportation, and many others. These sectors operate as institutions or organisations.
The institutions or organisations are managed by people, some of whom are good while others are bad. The problem with many people is that, when they see what is wrong in society, they fail to report it to the appropriate authorities for action to be taken. For this reason, wrongdoing and crimes continue unabated in society.
Many Ghanaians complain about our systems, stating that they don’t work to the satisfaction of everyone. This explains why many criminals go scot-free in this nation.
Even in situations where eyewitnesses who can be of help are expected to assist the police in their investigations, they refuse to cooperate, and this makes things difficult for everyone in the country. A common practice that has been observed over the years in all parts of the country is the the blame game, where everyone wants to blame somebody for wrongdoing.
However, when it comes to owning up to the truth, nobody wants to do so, and we sit to play the blame game so that we can keep ourselves out of trouble.
This is not good enough because it makes us less responsible for actions that could have been taken to prevent wrongdoings in society and help our peace-keeping institutions uncover culprits who do not work in the interest of the country.
The government is working hard to make socioeconomic development better for all Ghanaians. Unfortunately, things have not been able to move at a faster rate than we all expected.
For example, corruption is everywhere, yet many people find it difficult to report any wrongdoing to the appropriate authorities for the right actions to be taken. Also, many personnel in organisations, public and private, are aware of the stealing of funds and acts of corruption that go on in their organisations.
In spite of this, nothing is reported, and we pretend that everything is fine. There are many heads of agencies who are very corrupt and have established systems to put fear in people and prevent them from revealing their negative deeds.
The entire country must, therefore, turn a new leaf and begin to re-examine its conscience in order to uncover wrongdoers in the country.
Instead of the truth, what do we see?
In some cases, wrongdoers are shielded and protected from naming and shaming, and they are also not prosecuted in court in line with the laws of the land. This has gone on in many sectors of the country, and for this reason, the truth is no longer revealed. It is as if people prefer untruth to truth. This is very unfortunate.
Each time anybody sees something, we must be prepared to say it to the right authorities, and this is why it has been emphasised by authorities in this country that, “See something, say something.” If we can all collaborate in this way, we can go a long way toward helping develop the country in a faster way than can be imagined.
Dear Editor,
The recent shooting to death of Javits Frimpong, a 15 year old Ghanaian student in Bronx, USA, is a heartbreaking reminder that bullying should never be dismissed as a normal part of growing up.
Reports indicate that the teenager had allegedly been subjected to bullying at school before he was fatally shot on his way to class.
While investigations continue and the exact motive yet to be officially established, the circumstances surrounding this tragedy have raised serious concerns about the impact of not checking bullying.
What makes this loss even more painful is that Javits Frimpong, had moved from Ghana to the United States with hopes of a brighter future through education. Instead, his life was cut short at an age when he should have been pursuing his dreams and preparing for adulthood.
Bullying is often viewed as harmless teasing, but its effects can be severe and long-lasting. Victims may suffer emotional trauma, anxiety, depression, poor academic performance, and, in extreme cases, become entangled in violence.
This incident should serve as a wake-up call to schools everywhere. Complaints of bullying must be taken seriously, investigated promptly, and addressed decisively before situations escalate.
Parents, teachers, school authorities, and community leaders all share a responsibility to create safe environments for young people.
Open communication, counselling services, anti-bullying education, and effective disciplinary measures can help protect vulnerable students.
Equally important is teaching young people respect, empathy, and peaceful conflict resolution.
As we mourn the loss of Javits Frimpong, let us also commit ourselves to ensuring that no other child loses their life because warning signs were ignored. The fight against bullying is not merely a school issue; it is a societal responsibility.
Yours faithfully,
Dansoman
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The recent report that 294 teenage girls in the Ayawaso West Municipality failed to receive their Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination is a depressing reminder of the gap between medical progress and public trust.
In a focused campaign with 997 girls the Roman Ridge Sub-Municipal Health Directorate reached a 70 percent coverage rate. Our public health professionals deserve praise for reaching 703 girls, but the remaining 30 percent pose a serious threat.
This shortfall is not due to a lack of institutional effort, logistics, or resources. The directorate had sufficient logistics, as highlighted by Public Health Nurse Patience Adoli Kporxah. Rather, the barrier was completely human: a lack of parental approval.
In Ghana, one of the top causes of cancer-related mortality for women is still cervical cancer. Ironically, it is also one of the most avoidable. The HPV vaccine is widely acknowledged as a safe, highly effective barrier that, when given early, can prevent up to 90 percent of cervical cancers.
Parents are unknowingly leaving their daughters vulnerable to a virus that they will probably come into contact with in the future by withholding approval.
This initiative was not initiated in secret by the health directorate. They coordinated with churches, mosques, and media outlets, spoke at Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) meetings, and sent letters to schools as part of their broad public outreach efforts. However, around 300 parents continued to withhold their signatures in spite of these multi-dimensional approaches.
Why is this resistance still present? Fear, cultural taboos, and false information about vaccines and reproductive health on the internet are the main causes of vaccine hesitation rather than an intent to hurt a child. When a vaccination is administered to young teenagers in schools, it may cause unjustified concerns about fertility and sexuality.
Our public health initiatives need to change in order to close this gap before the November and December phases.
Letters and the mass media are important, but they are unable to provide precise, worried answers. During PTA meetings, health staff could think about holding direct question and answer sessions so parents may express their worries without fear of being judged.
In order to normalise the vaccine, community elders, religious leaders, and reputable local physicians must do more than simply impart knowledge; they must openly support it.
We must present the HPV vaccine as a standard, life-saving cancer prevention tool that is now completely incorporated into Ghana’s regular immunisation programme.
The entrance is still open, according to public health officials. Daughters who did not participate in the school-based activity can still get the vaccination at no cost by taking them to any government health institution.
We must work together to prevent cervical cancer in the future generation. The infrastructure, education, and dosages have been supplied by public health teams. The trust must now be provided by the parents of Ayawaso West and Ghana as a whole.
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