News
Time waits for no man
One of the relentless things about life is that it is passing. Time spends itself no matter what we do with it. It moves at its own pace, and we can’t “save” any part of it. The only part we play in its passing is the purpose to which we put it. We can waste it or use it well. We can fill it full or leave it empty and idle. We can use it for the right things or for the wrong things. And since we can’t “save” it, since it is going to pass at its own pace anyway, we had just as well decide to make the most of it. Young people sometimes let the best years for practice and preparation slip by. And perhaps most of us who are older have realised later in life that some things would have been much easier for us if we had taken time for them when we were younger. Increasing responsibilities force us more and more to care for pressing problems rather than pursue our own preferences. More and more we are crowded into making a living, with less and less time for preparing to make one. And it is discouraging when a man with heavy obligations must try to acquire the training that he could have had and should have had in his youth. Of course many men have recovered from a late start, successfully and heroically and it can and will be done by many more. But often, much of what we have to do could have been done easy earlier. And in looking back we can sometimes see how much time we wasted in doing things that didn’t mean much. Time is much like manna: We can’t hoard it. We can’t save it. The Lord allots each day its own supply. We can use it as it comes or let it waste away. And in making our choices we must remember all along the way that if we choose to do some things, we choose in effect to pass up other things, because time is too short to do everything we would like to do.
Time is the very essence of all our opportunities. And we had better do earlier the things that are easier to do earlier, and not forever be living our lives just a little too late.
A high school student learned a valuable lesson as he took a college entrance exam a few months ago. The night before the test, he read through the instructions he had received. He verified the time the exam would start. He sharpened his pencils. He put his calculator in his backpack.
He felt ready for the early-morning test. The next day, as the test began, the teacher invited the students to use their calculators on the math section. The young man pulled his calculator out and pressed the power button. But the screen remained blank. He tried again. Nothing. And then the shocking reality hit—the batteries were dead, and he had no replacements!
He would need to do the math section the old-fashioned way—with paper and pencil. He learned something that day and it had nothing to do with math, science, or reading comprehension. He learned about the value of preparation. He thought he was prepared, but when the crucial moment came, he faced a problem he had not anticipated.
He learned that sometimes being prepared means foreseeing the unforeseen. Most of us have found ourselves in similar circumstances. We feel comfortable about our lives until a disaster or misfortune makes food, fuel, or resources hard to come by. And it’s not only tragedies that require our preparation— sometimes an opportunity arises, and we find that our lack of preparation may have closed doors and limited our future. So how do we prepare? By focusing on things of greatest worth. By placing more value in people than in things. By reading and pondering words that strengthen us spiritually. By taking care of our emotional and physical well-being, living within our means, and enriching our minds through lifelong learning. All this and more will bolster our ability to get through the challenges and seize the opportunities.
The rain falls, and the sun shines, on all of us to varying degrees throughout our life. Now is the time to think carefully about the future and how to create our best life. Now is the time to prepare. This is our time, our season. We can’t really go back to another time or trade places with someone else, but we can enjoy the present and meet the future with faith. The wisdom of the Psalmist echoes through the ages: “This is the day which the Lord hath made; [let us] rejoice and be glad in it” (Psalm 118:24).
By Samuel Enos Eghan
For the first time in its seven-year history, the celebrated Guinea Fowl Bazaar has been brought to Accra, marking a significant expansion of an event that has, for the past six years, been a staple in Tamale.
The two-day cultural and culinary festival, held from May 1–2, drew over 500 patrons and featured nearly 20 vendors, to promote Northern Ghana’s rich food culture particularly guinea fowl delicacies.
Hosted by By Faith Catering Services, the bazaar brought together traditional leaders, cultural groups, food entrepreneurs, and government representatives in a display of heritage and enterprise.
Speaking at the event, Mr. Angelo Dogbe, the Northern Regional Director of the Ghana Tourism Authority underscored the importance of promoting indigenous cuisine as a tool for economic development and cultural preservation. Chiefs from the Northern Region also graced the occasion, lending traditional authority and reinforcing the cultural significance of the festival.
A major highlight of the bazaar was a series of captivating cultural performances representing the diverse tribes of the Northern Region. Attendees were treated to traditional music, dance, and attire, transforming the venue into a lively tapestry of Northern identity and pride.
Vendors expressed enthusiasm about the opportunity to showcase their products to a new audience in the capital. Many noted increased visibility, networking opportunities, and strong sales throughout the two-day event.
The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of By Faith Catering Services, Mrs. Matilda Zenabu Pipio described the Accra edition as a strategic move to broaden the reach of the festival and create new economic pathways for vendors and producers from the north.
She announced plans to make the Accra bazaar an annual event, emphasizing its potential to boost employment, promote guinea fowl production, and introduce more Ghanaians to the unique flavours of Northern cuisine.
She said, the event is a platform for cultural exchange, economic empowerment, and national unity through food.
She commended partners and called on more organisers to support and invest in initiatives like this.
Meanwhile, the organizers of Guinea fowl Bazaar paid a courtesy call to the Editor of Spectator, Mrs. Georgina Naa-Maku Quaittoo and Mr. David Adadevoh, Acting Editor of The Ghanaian Times.
Both editors lauded the initiatives and encouraged the organizers to sustain it.
Organizers for the initiative and called on stakeholders and cooperate bodies to support this good course.
By Geoffrey Buta.
MTN Ghana has hosted more than 200 students from various educational institutions in Accra for an engaging, hands-on technology immersion at MTN House, bringing classroom theory to life and fueling interest in STEM and digital innovation.
Students from Ashesi University, Ghana International School, Cradle Star Academy, and Kinderland School explored MTN Ghana’s rich history, core values, customer-focused innovations, and digital transformation agenda.
They were introduced to the company’s sustainability and social impact initiatives, spanning education, youth empowerment and community development. A key highlight of the visits was a tour of MTN Ghana’s Network Operations Centre (NOC) and data centres.
The students gained first-hand exposure to the advanced technology, systems, and expertise powering seamless connectivity for millions daily – offering a rare look into how MTN ensures network performance, security, and resilience.
Speaking on the initiative, the Chief Corporate Services and Sustainability Officer at MTN Ghana, Adwoa Wiafe, noted, “Hosting students at MTN House reflects our commitment to shaping Ghana’s digital future. As we deliver our Ambition 2030 strategy, we are deepening investments in youth development through programmes like the Bright Scholarship, the MTN Digital Skills Academy, and collaborations on the One Million Coders Programme and the Girls in ICT initiative led by the Ministry of Communications, Digital Technology and Innovation.”
Paschal Paaga, Manager for IT Projects Implementation, emphasised the importance of experiential learning.
‘’By opening our doors, we are helping to bridge the gap between academia and industry. We want young people to see the real-world impact of technology and be inspired to pursue careers in STEM.”
For many participants, the experience was transformative. Maame Sapomaa, a Level 300 Information Systems student from Ashesi University, shared, “The visit was incredibly inspiring. Everything we have learned in the classroom came to life, and we were exposed to new concepts beyond our studies. It has motivated me even more to pursue a career in technology.”
As MTN Ghana advances its Ambition 2030 vision, the company remains committed to driving digital inclusion, platform-led innovation, and building strategic partnerships that support Ghana’s long-term socio-economic development.
