Features
Taking a cue from a country where modesty and simplicity are its hallmark in governance
Modesty, is a God-given principle that helps a person or an institution to keep safely on the convenient path as the person or the body makes strides in the presence of the Almighty God. Modesty in actual sense, thought and behaviour, will help prepare mankind to make a sacred temple covenant. Similarly, simplicity in its true meaning, connotes uncomplicated, simple and elaborate method that can be understood, apply or done easily for the purposes of progress and development.
Being modest and simple begin with how one sees himself or herself and the place in the world. By being aware of your own strengths and weaknesses, you can avoid pitfalls of arrogance and start life more modestly. Just try to see yourself the way others see you by asking your closest friends how to perceive you. In effect, modesty and virtue, are qualities that are universally recognised as essential for the proper development and success of individuals and nations. It is important to impact in the youth these values so that they grow up into responsible and productive members of their communities and the nation in general.
POSITIVE ATTRIBUTES OF MODESTY AND SIMPLICITY
Some of the attributes of modesty include simplicity in the way of doing things, living within ones means not spending more than what comes in, be content with what you have and thinking about the long- term rather the short-term. It is said that a person is modest when he or she is considerate and does not boast or brag, so it is to developing nations across the world. The watchword is “Cutting your coat according to your cloth”.
I have decided to take my readers to the realms of theory just to prepare their minds to appreciate the importance of modesty and simplicity in our everyday lives and how they reflect on governance in countries that are well developed so that those of us in the developing world can learn and apply them for our own good and progress.
VIDEO ON SWEDEN AND THEIR WAY OF LIFE
Just recently, a cousin of mine domiciled in the United States of America who has been feeding me with educative materials including video clips across the world to educate, inform and entertain me of happenings across the globe, sent me one of his interesting videos about Sweden which since time immemorial, has adopted modesty and simplicity as their way of life which are working perfectly for them as a nation.
The video is about how this Scandinavian nation with thousands of coastal inland and inland lakes, with vast boreal forest and glaciated mountains, are running their august parliament as well as effective governance in a more matured, modest and simple way that have inured to their progress and advancement. Even though this country with a total population of a little over 10.35 million as of 2020 is fairly rich and industrious, it has been able to put in place certain mechanisms to cut down cost of public spending in order to rake in more funds to meet its developmental goals and that is working perfectly and effectively for them.
SHORT HISTORY ABOUT SWEDEN
To get a true picture of Sweden since I have never been to that country in my lifetime, I have done a little research about that country just to educate and carry my readers some of whom are just like me along to have a feel of that country. As I stated earlier, Sweden is a Scandinavian nation with its eastern capital located in Stockholm which is built on 14 islands. It has more than 50 bridges as well as medieval old town, Gamla Stan, royal palaces and museums. Although the country is relatively wealthy, 16.2 per cent of its people are at risk of falling into the poverty bracket. Even though English is one of the most commonly spoken languages in the world, it will be of interest to know that while about 80 per cent of the people understand English perfectly, they hardly speak the language, except their mother tongue, Swedes.
The vast majority of enterprises are privately owned. We are told that the country’s economic success is due to stable economic and political institutions which allow the people to focus on producing wealth. Swedish society is based on equality and individualism and the people are proud of their nation and its accomplishments which they termed Lagom, which means “Not too much, not too little…just right” a word often used and heard in Sweden. The country has a profound respect for integrity.
MODESTY AND SIMPLICITY IN SWEDISH PARLIAMENT
Having given the geographical location of Sweden, I will now go back to the video clip to show how modest and simple their parliament is being run to cut cost. The five minutes’ video titled, “The country where Members of Parliament don’t get free coffee, talks about drastic reduction of the way of life of the MPs as far as their living conditions are concerned. It talks about the whole parliament having three cars which are used for official work. Besides, MPs are expected to use public transportation during sitting hours. We are being told in that video that until 1957, the MPs were not being paid for their jobs and could not raise their own salaries. Apartments are provided to MPs from outside Stockholm which is one room apartment. Visitors are not allowed to stay overnight and if any of the MPs wants to bring a visitor to his or her apartment to stay overnight, the MP must pay for it. Any trip abroad by MPs must cost a maximum of 85 per cent of his or her salary. If an MP rents a car, he or she must choose the shortest possible route. Swedish MPs have no secretaries or assistants and they have to plan their own schedules.
THE JUDICIARY AND POLITICIANS IN SWEDEN
Parliamentarians who have missed more than 60 per cent of their voting occasions must repay from their salaries. There are no lifetime pensions for former MPs. In the case of judiciary, the criminal justice system is well organised and judges have no right to official cars. There is no immunity from criminal prosecution of politicians. Regional politicians do not receive salaries because their work is considered public good as such is unpaid. Public Service in Sweden is neither prestigious nor lucrative. The video ended by explaining that all these rules and many others, are designed to make Sweden a functioning democracy.
AFRICANS MUST LEARN FROM SWEDISH EXPERIENCE
Seriously, what we need to ask ourselves as Africans is that, is it not relevant to adopt some of these rules in our institutions of governance to cut down wastage, cost and conserve foreign exchange and other meagre resources to advance economic progress on our continent? If a nation like Sweden which is fairly rich in resources and capital, is operating modestly and simple, why can’t we in Africa learn from their experience? Africa is suffering because our leaders are selfish in character and do not think about the interests of their peoples. The limited resources at their disposal are being plundered to satisfy their personal interests and that of their closest associates while their citizens continue to live in abject poverty and misery.
OUR OFFICE HOLDERS MUST SHOW LEADERSHIP BY EXAMPLE
Over here in Ghana, as we continue to battle with the current economic crises which have brought untold hardships to the people, there are quite a number of institutions of governance which are feeding fat on the people. Our institutions of governance are not being considerate with the citizens and continue to impose all kinds of taxes and levies to worsen the plight of Ghanaians while those in positions of authority continue to enjoy.
The Swedish example must inspire us including other African countries to adopt measures to cut down cost and protect the public purse.
Contact email/WhatsApp of author:
0277753946/0248933366
By Charles Neequaye
Attention-Deficit or Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is often mistaken for laziness or indiscipline. In consulting rooms across Accra and in reports from school teachers, the pattern repeats: children who are bright but forgetful, parents who feel helpless, teachers who see incompleteness.
Research is clear-Barkley (2015) and others describe ADHD as a difference in the brain’s regulation of alertness, impulse and working memory, not a lack of effort.
The family’s role begins with structure. Regular sleep, predictable meal and homework times, and a simple visual list (uniform → books → water → corridor) provide the external scaffolding of these children need. Praise what is completed—“You opened the book and wrote the first sentence”-instead of rebuking what is missing.
Schools can help by seating the child front-row and centre, giving short written plus verbal instructions, allowing brief movement breaks, using quiet nonverbal cues and, where possible, grading effort and method as well as neatness. These adjustments reduce conflict and raise submission rates without lowering standards.
Couples and caregivers should share roles: one grounds, one pivots, and both protect rest. Shame-“bad parenting, bad child”-needs replacing with fact: different wiring, needs scaffolding.
Outcomes improve not by promises of perfection but by daily routines, clear limits and warmed connection. One homework slot kept, one instruction chunked, one calm repair after blurting-these small wins shift the family climate and let the child be seen beyond the label.
Resource
• CPAC (award-winning Mental Health and Counselling Facility): 0559850604 / 0551428486
Source: REV. COUNSELLOR PRINCE OFFEI’s insights on special needs support, relationships, and mental health in Ghana. He is a leading mental health professional, lecturer, ADR Expert/Arbitrator, renowned author, and marriage counsellor at COUNSELLOR PRINCE & ASSOCIATES CONSULT (CPAC COUNSELLOR TRAINING INSTITUTE) – 0551428486 /0559850604.
WEBSITES:
https://princeoffei22.wixsite.com/author
https://princeoffei22.wixsite.com/website
After two weeks of hectic activity up north, I drove to the Tamale airport, parked the car at the Civil Aviation car park as usual, paid the usual parking fee and boarded the plane for Accra.
Over the last two weeks, I had shuffled between three sites where work was close to completion.
One was a seed warehouse, where farmers would come and pick up good quality maize, sorghum and other planting material.
The other was a health facility for new mothers, where they were given basic training on good nutrition and small scale business.
And the third was a set of big boreholes for three farming communities.
The projects usually ran on schedule, but a good deal of time was spent building rapport with the local people, to ensure that they would be well patronised and maintained.
It was great to be working in a situation where one’s work was well appreciated. But it certainly involved a lot of work, and proactivity. And I made sure that I recorded updates online before going to bed in the evening.
When the plane took off, my mind shifted to issues in Accra, the big city. The young guys at my office had done some good work. They had secured five or six houses on a row in a good part of the city, and were close to securing the last.
When we got this property, unusually, Abena greeted them casually, and appeared to be comfortable in the guy’s company.
I was quite disappointed to hear that, because until the last few weeks, it seemed as if Abena and I were heading in a good direction. Apart from the affection I had for her, I liked her family. I decided to take it easy, and allow things to fall in whatever direction.
Normally I would take a taxi to her house from the airport, and pick her up to my place. This time I went to my sisters’ joint, where they sat by me while I enjoyed a drink and a good meal.
“So Little Brother,” Sister Beesiwa said, “what is it we are hearing about our wife-to-be?”
“When did you conclude that she was your wife-to-be? And what have you heard? I’ve only heard a couple of whispers. Ebo and Nana Kwame called to say that they have seen her in the company of—”
“Well said Little Brother,” Sister Baaba said. “By the way, Nana Kwame called an hour ago to ask if you had arrived because he could not reach you. Someone had told him that Jennifer had boasted to someone that she had connected Abena to a wealthy guy who would take care of her.”
I was beginning to understand. For some time, Abena had been asking me what work I was doing up north, and after I had explained it to her, she kept asking. So I think Jennifer fed her with false stories about me in order to get her to move to the Ampadu guy. Jennifer must have been well compensated for her efforts.
“In that case,” Sister Beesiwa said, “you should be glad that Abena is out of your way. She is easily swayed. Anyone who would make a relationship decision based on a friend’s instigation lacks good sense. I hope the guy is as wealthy as they say?”
“Who gets wealthy running a supermarket chain in Ghana?” Sister Baaba said. “Our supermarkets sell mostly imported products. Look at the foreign exchange rate. And remember that Ghanaians buy second-hand shoes and clothes. Supermarkets are not good business here. Perhaps they are showing off that they are wealthy, but in reality they are not doing so well.”
“Amen to that,” I said. “I’m beginning to understand. For some time, Abena had been asking me what work I was doing up north, and after I had explained it to her, she kept asking. So I think Jennifer fed her with false stories about me in order to get her to move to the Ampadu guy. Jennifer must have been well compensated for her efforts.”
She said that David Forson was only an agricultural extension worker in the north who did not have the resources to take care of a beautiful girl like her. And apart from being wealthy, the guy comes from an influential family, so Abena had done much better leaving a miserable civil servant like you for him.
“Amen to that,” I said. “I’m beginning to understand. For some time, Abena had been asking me what work I was doing up north, and after I had explained it to her, she kept asking. We would be able to sell all five houses to one big corporate customer, and we had already spoken to a property dealer who was trying to find a buyer in order to get a good commission.
That was going to be my biggest break. I had asked the boys to look for a large tract of land on the outskirts of the city where we could develop our own set of buildings, blocks of storey houses and upscale apartments. Things were going according to plan, and I was quietly excited. However, things were not going so well regarding my relationship with Abena.
My buddies Ebo and Nana Kwame had called to say that they met Abena and her friend Jennifer enjoying lunch with a guy, and Ebo believed that Jennifer was ‘promoting’ an affair between Jennifer and the guy. They were of the view that the promotion seemed to be going in the guy’s favour, because only an agricultural extension worker in the north who did not have the resources to take care of a beautiful girl like her.
And apart from being wealthy, the guy comes from an influential family, so Abena had done much better leaving a miserable civil servant like you for him.
“As I’ve already said, I will stop by her place, but I will mind my own business from now. Hey, let’s talk family. How are our parents? And my brothers-in-law? And my nephews and nieces? Why don’t we meet on Sunday? I’m going to drop my bags at my place, and go to see Mama and Dad.”
