News
The question of fate
There is this phrase “…as fate will have it…” and is a very often used phrase. It gives the impression that something that happened was preordained and that is when people begin to question why this happened and why that happened and who or what determines the fate of a person.
If fate exist, then who or what determines what fate should befall a person, is the crux of the matter. The Oxford dictionary defines it as ‘the development of events outside a person’s control, regarded as predetermined by a supernatural power.’ This is where it gets interesting.
Why is it that in a class if about 40 students, some are very brilliant and others struggle to do well academically? Let us even bring it into families where among siblings, some are brilliant and others struggle academically. Reminds me of a family I know. They were five siblings.
The second born and the fourth were brilliant but the rest were nothing to write home about. It was like, they were from different parents. What has fate got to do with this?
A funny WhatsApp readily comes to mind, captioned, ‘The real reason for racism.’ In the picture below the title, is a White lady in a kind of a tight boxer shorts and a flat behind and a shapeless body.
The picture beside her was that of a Black woman, all the curves in the right places, a body shape that even most women, will envy, the type boys-boys will say “she has ‘ enyimnyam’ and ‘ekyirnyam’.”
In other words she is graciously endowed in front and behind. These days in the marriage market apart from a beautiful face, if you are not graciously endowed both front in your chest area and back in the torso area, your market value will be severely reduced.
Are we then saying that a supernatural power who created human beings, deliberately decided to enhance the market value of some ladies but again decided to reduce that of others? Again, this raises serious questions about the existence of fate.
Sometimes passing through town either walking or in a vehicle, one comes across a mad person or persons. These are people who used to be like us, normal, knowing that which is right or wrong, who appreciated nice things and would never wear dirty clothes or eat filthy things.
Yet they now find themselves in a situation where they laugh at will without reason, attack people without provocation and act in ways that no sane person would ever contemplate.
Again, as a Christian, who believes that the Bible is the word of God, and that the Bible describes God as the creator and is also a good God; it therefore does not align with his nature to have a fate of madness for people he himself has created.
Deliberately predetermining that a terrible thing like madness, alcoholism etc. should be the fate of a human being created by a good God, does not make sense. What it tells me is that there is nothing like fate.
What I believe in is that, decisions or choices, have consequences, either good or bad. If a person chooses to drink alcohol, over time, he or she can get kidney problems. This brings to mind the effect of galamsey on our health and if we as a people, do nothing to stop it, the health consequences will result in something we shall later claim as fate. What has fate got to do with someone deciding to indulge in drugs, becomes addicted and destroys his life?
What has fate got to do with deciding to live a promiscuous lifestyle and dying through HIV AIDS before his time?
NB: ‘CHANGE KOTOKA INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT TO KOFI BAAKO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT’
By Laud Kissi-Mensah
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News
Sammy Awuku urges Fourth Estate to follow GJA Code of Ethics when holding duty bearers accountable
The Member of Parliament for Akuapem North, Samuel Awuku, has called on the Fourth Estate to strictly adhere to the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) Code of Ethics when reporting on public officials and state institutions.
In a statement issued on 25 September 2025, Mr Awuku said a recent publication by the Fourth Estate about the National Lottery Authority’s (NLA) Good Causes Foundation misrepresented facts about projects undertaken during his time as Director-General.
According to him, the article created the impression that funds meant for the underprivileged were diverted to “glamorous events and questionable enterprises” but ignored many life-saving projects, donations and community interventions funded by the Foundation.
He reminded journalists that Article 1 of the GJA Code of Ethics obliges them to provide factual, balanced and accurate information to the public and to cross-check their facts before publication. “For journalists of the Fourth Estate’s calibre who pride themselves in working in the public interest, it is only appropriate that their publications are factual and not misleading,” he stated.
Mr Awuku explained that the NLA Good Causes Foundation was established in October 2021 to rebrand the Authority’s corporate social responsibility arm and focus on health, education, youth and sports development, and arts and culture.
He said that during his tenure the Foundation built 20-seater toilet facilities with mechanised boreholes in several communities, funded surgery for a baby with spinal bifida, donated incubators and medical supplies to hospitals, constructed a smart laboratory for the Borstal Institute, provided scholarships to needy students, and supported football clubs and cultural festivals, among other projects.
Mr Awuku added that the Foundation was funded through the Caritas Lottery Platform, which generated about GHS11 million between October 2021 and December 2024 after its relaunch.
He dismissed claims that the Authority spent heavily on awards and luxury events, explaining that sponsorships accounted for only about five per cent of expenditure and were intended to attract corporate stakeholders and raise revenue. He also said many award nominations were turned down and that any awards received were not “bought” but recognised the work of his management and staff.
The MP expressed concern about the publication of the names of NLA staff and other beneficiaries, including patients, saying this violated their privacy.
Mr Awuku concluded that he served with integrity and helped turn the NLA’s losses into profits and urged the Fourth Estate and other media houses to present a full and balanced picture when holding duty bearers accountable.
By: Jacob Aggrey
Businessman Richard A. Jakpa has petitioned the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service.
He is accusing former Attorney-General Godfred Yeboah Dame of trying to get him to give false evidence in court.
In his petition dated July 23, 2025, Mr. Jakpa said he is the third accused person in an ongoing trial involving former Deputy Finance Minister Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson.
According to Mr. Jakpa, Mr. Dame contacted him after the prosecution closed its case and allegedly urged him to cooperate and testify in a way that would implicate Dr. Forson.
He further alleged that on March 26, 2024, Mr. Dame called him and suggested how he should answer questions about Letters of Credit during cross-examination, and even advised him to seek a false medical excuse to delay proceedings.
This, Mr. Jakpa mentioned, he refused to do so.
The businessman is asking the CID to investigate what he describes as an attempt to fabricate evidence and undermine the court process.
The former Attorney-General has not yet publicly responded to the allegations.
By: Jacob Aggrey
