News
The 43rd Anniversary of the Islamic Revolution of Iran and its Impact
Distinct from any other revolution in contemporary world politics, the Islamic Revolution in 1979 was a major turning point in world history as it introduced into, as well as veered the global geo-political and economic order into a completely unforeseen direction. Iran, a country of 10,000 years’ history had, in the past centuries been reduced to almost a satellite-state for one world power or the other until the success of the People’s Revolution (the Islamic revolution) led by Ayatollah Ruhollah Al Musawi Al Khomeini on the 11th of February 1979. The result of the success of this revolution was that, Iran transformed from a foreign monarchy to an independent republic built upon Islamic tenets.
World and regional powers –the US at its helm- which had lost a milking cow in the form of the now toppled but previously submissive monarchy of Iran, scrambled in oval and rectangular offices to draw up new ways by which to return Iran into being once more a submissive subordinate: The culminations of this was the full scale invasion of Iran by the dictatorship of (and with the financial and logistical support of the US, the Soviets, Europe and other regional powers) by Saddam Hussein in 1980, until 1988. Shortly after which crippling economic sanctions were imposed upon Iranians who were just recovering from the eight-year long war while also fighting domestic and foreign terrorism. The Islamic republic has not only survived these and many other deliberate and calculated impediments, it has strived and continues to do so in spite of 43 years of economic and military pressure, domestic terror and media misrepresentation.
Today, under all of these challenges, the Islamic republic can yet boast of strides never achieved by previously unchallenged governments. To list a few:
- Literacy rate. The literacy rate in 1976 amongst Iranian adults was 36.52% and 48.1per cent in 1977. while by 2016 it had grown to 85.54 per cent and furthered to 96 per cent in 2020.
Literacy rate amongst women was 28per cent in 1977 but had grown to 90 per cent in 2020 as reported by the Financial Tribune on 5th February, 2020, https://financialtribune.com/articles/people/102038/iran-literacy-rate-at-96
- Science and healthcare
Iran is the fastest scientifically developing country in the world, growing at a rate that is eleven times more than the global average (according to Science-Metrix)
The number of scientific articles published in Iran in 1970 were 669. by 2018, it had grown to 55,509. which represents an 8,200 per cent increase in that regard. (web of science)
Iran was ranked 5th in the Middle East in 1996 in the number of citable documents, but in 2017 it was ranked 1st ahead of Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Israel (SCImago, (n.d.). SJR — SCImago Journal & Country Rank [Portal]. Retrieved Date you Retrieve, from http://www.scimagojr.com)
Medicine:In medicine, iran ranked 58th in the world in 1996 in medical research publication, but ranked 16th in 2020.
Life expectancy has risen from 50 years before the revolution to 75 years after the revolution.
Infant mortality of children under 5, has reduced from 185 per 1.000 to 14.9 per 1000 births.
The number of specialist doctors have grown from 5890 specialists before the revolution to 36,000 in 2017.
According to the World Bank, in 2009, Iran ranked 21st in quality and number of hospitals. In 2017, it ranked as the second country in controlling contagious diseases. Iran’s status in sanitation and medical advances has attracted gratitude from UNICEF
In Nanotechnology, Iran ranked 58th out of 66 countries in 1996, in 2020 it ranked 16th out of 121 countries in the world, while ranking first in the Middle East in 2020.
In aerospace, Iran has grown from ranking 45th in 1996 to 11th in the world in 2020 in the field of publishing scientific articles in aerospace research and production while ranking first in the Middle East.
Iran has launched several home grown satellites into space.
Nuclear science and engineering, in 1996, Iran ranked 11th out of eleven countries in the Middle East and 86th out of 86 countries in the world in nuclear science, in 2020 Iran ranked 1st and 11th respectively in the same category. (SCImago, (n.d.). SJR — SCImago Journal & Country Rank [Portal]. Retrieved Date you Retrieve, from http://www.scimagojr.com)
In Agriculture and Biological Science, Iran ranked 76th in 1996 and it ranked 14th in 2020.
In terms of defence the military might of Iran is one of the most autonomous in the world today while before the revolution, Iran barely manufactured any defense systems on its own. The number of home grown defence systems, from drones to missiles and supersonic jets as well as anti-ballistic missile defence systems, naval and air defence systems, cyber defence and counter espionage has also catapulted Iran into a self-reliant and defence capable country not to be bullied into submission.
We could, therefore, say that, the Islamic Revolution is perhaps the most successful and most enduring revolution in recent history. The impact of this revolution can be felt throughout the world, many people across the world who are lovers of self-determination and perseverance in the face of arrogance, bullying and colonialism see in Iran ‘the ideal’ state and the ultimate inspiration to continue on the path of self-Reliance.
Millions of people today, not only identify with the Islamic republic politically and ideologically but also spiritually and morally, since this republic is modeled in the image of the great moral and spiritual aspirations of the noble Prophet of Islam.
The uniqueness of the Islamic republic lies in its appeal to people of all walks of life and of all religions and races through a universal brotherhood in humanity, humility, patience, tolerance, determination, perseverance and self-awareness. But above all, through solidarity with the downtrodden of the downtrodden.
The future of this great revolution lies in its dynamism and adoptability to practical life situations. And its Continuous success lies in its support of the common people and of the peoples support for this path.
From Cultural Consulate of Islamic Republic of Iran in Accra.
By A. S. Saeed
The Volta North Regional Police Command has secured a conviction of a 27 year old man Mohammed Rafiu for making unlawful entry and stealing church musical instruments at Hohoe in the Volta Region.
On June 5, 2026 the accused was observed near the Faith International Ministry Church carrying a sack containing various items rushing to hail a car.
The witnesses suspected his action and approached to check the content in the sack. The following items were found, One (1) Amplifier, One (1) equalizer, One (1) mixer and
Cross-over Machine all belonging to the church.
The accused was arrested and brought to the Hohoe Police District where he admitted to police to the charges leveled against him.
On Monday June 8, 2026 the accused was put before the Hohoe circuit cout where he pleaded guilty on two counts and was convicted and sentenced to three (3) years for unlawful entry and four (4) years of stealing.
Both sentences are to run concurrently.
The Volta North Regional Police Command has urged the general public to immediately report any suspected criminal activities to the Police for action.
News
Dome-Kwabenya MP, Ga East MCE tour flood-prone areas in the constituency, assure victims of support
The Member of Parliament (MP) for Dome-Kwabenya, Elikplim Akurugu, together with the Municipal Chief Executive for the Ga East Municipal Assembly, Edmund Agboh, and officials of the assembly, have toured several flood-prone communities in the constituency to identify the causes of recent flooding and inspect structures obstructing waterways.
The inspection made on the Monday, 8th June, 2026 formed part of efforts to assess the extent of the flooding, identify structures built on waterways, and develop plans for their demolition to prevent future occurrences.
Some areas visited during the tour included Christian Village, Sesemi, Abokobi Station, Falaku and the Pure Water area, all of which were affected by the recent floods that hit parts of the constituency.
Speaking to the media after the inspection, the MP expressed sadness over the destruction caused by the floods, noting that although no lives were lost, many residents had suffered significant property damage.
She attributed much of the flooding to human activities such as indiscriminate dumping of refuse into drains and the construction of buildings on waterways and drainage channels.
The MP appealed to residents to change their attitudes towards sanitation and environmental management, stressing that the country did not have a deficit of prayers but rather an attitude deficit.
She assured residents that the assembly and its technical team would immediately begin work to address some of the drainage challenges identified during the tour.
Ms. Akurugu sympathised with residents whose homes and businesses were affected by the floods and assured them that efforts were being made to secure relief items to support them.
The Municipal Chief Executive of the Ga East Municipal Assembly, Edmund Agboh, said the inspection was intended to take stock of the causes of the recent flooding, which he described as unprecedented.
According to him, the assembly wants to be proactive by identifying and addressing the factors responsible for the flooding before the next rainy season.
Mr. Agboh blamed part of the problem on the increasing number of structures being erected on waterways and drainage paths, as well as the failure of some residents to comply with building regulations.
He disclosed that many of the structures identified during the inspection would be marked for demolition after the necessary procedures had been completed.
The MCE further announced plans to intensify inspections, particularly on weekends, explaining that some developers often undertake unauthorised construction works on Saturdays and Sundays when assembly officials are not at work.
He said the assembly would collaborate with neighbouring jurisdictions and deploy additional resources to improve drainage systems and reduce flooding in the municipality.
The MCE assured that the assembly will use the findings from the inspection to implement immediate and long-term measures aimed at reducing flooding and protecting lives and property in Dome-Kwabenya.
The Director of Works at the Ga East Municipal Assembly, Engineer Justine Glover, said the team inspected several critical locations along the Dakobi River and other flood-prone areas.
He explained that at Pantang Village, officials directed contractors to excavate and open blocked culvert outlets to allow the free flow of water during rainfall.
At Sesemi, he said the team observed extensive damage caused by upstream developments and the absence of proper drainage infrastructure.
Engineer Glover added that officials recommended dredging drainage channels at Abokobi Station to improve the performance of existing culverts.
He further revealed that some structures identified on waterways at Falaku had been earmarked for demolition as part of efforts to restore the natural flow of water.
In addition to the inspection, the MP and the MCE visited residents affected by the floods in the Pure Water area to offer words of encouragement and assure them of support.
The tour also revealed that many residents had constructed buildings on waterways, while several structures lacked the required building permits, a situation officials said had contributed significantly to the flooding experienced in the constituency.
By: Jacob Aggrey
