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Trigger-happiness and the human liver
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THE POLICE force has produced some of the country’s best dancers, but when it comes to shooting, I cannot vouch for all of Peter Nanfuri’s men. Most of them are excellent marksmen, but as for some, they whimsically believe that a warning shot must be targeted at a human jaw to make it effective. The shot must warn the jaw not to misbehave.
Coming back to dancing, I must stand at ease and doff my hat to the police force. I do not know whether Honourable Peter dances stylishly. But I have attended at least two parties organised by policemen and I was doubly impressed by the rare showmanship of inspectors, superintendents, commissioners, constables and all. I called a corporal friend aside and asked whether dancing was part of the syllabus at Police College.
Indeed, I was overwhelmed, even awe-inspired at the high quality of individual choreographic spins, jerks, twists and turns. As the climax approached at one such party, a sergeant, determined to steal the show, almost ‘took to flight’ in one of Sıkaman’s most celebrated choreographic exhibitions. Virtually airborne, he combined traditional dance styles with Pentecostal boogie and ended up break-dancing, triggering off a standing ovation.
But it was a lady corporal who finally sent the crowd into a frenzy. She did not only belly-dance; her body was vibrating as if it had been connected to electricity. It was a marvel. I have never been so much impressed in life.
Actually, I do not know why police staff do not contest in national dance competitions. They can have a try at it, why not? Just like journalists planning to try their hands at boxing part-time, to supplement their income.
We’ve got some pen-pushers whom you could mistake for fierce welter-weights or formidable super-featherweight, Azumah Nelson type. We are also privileged to have a few southpaws and I’m thinking about getting into the heavyweight division and ask Kofi Coomson to be my sparring mate. The only problem is that I can’t guarantee the safety of his ribs, taking into consideration that he is not quite macho.
He’d have to ‘beef up’ before we meet.
Yes, returning to the palaver of the police, I must say unreservedly that some bad nuts are embarrassing the force. It is for very good reasons that the Police Administration is about to institute a special judicial tribunal to try its personnel who resort to rampant and careless use of firearms, to the extent that a warning shot into the air can mysteriously wind up someone’s liver.
On many occasions, I have been surprised because the police are well-trained and remember they once won a shooting contest, they beat the army and navy to second and third places. So how come that some of them mishandle weapons so childishly as to cause injury when there should be no cause for it?
The Inspector-General of Police’s embarrassment is evinced in his words. He observes that various accidents resulting from now indiscriminate “stray” bullets and warning shot give the impression that the police aren’t properly, trained in weapons handling.
“Members of the public have become so aggrieved and intolerant that they are not even prepared to listen to official explanations on how the accidents happened, “he said.
Well, until the police sort themselves out as to those who are hopelessly incompetent in handling weapons aim who are not, I do not think it would be prudent to make policemen use live ammunitions in public unless the situation really demands it. Other means of subduing recalcitrant are available – rubber bullets, blank shots, tear gas, etc.
When tear gas was recently used at Legon during a students’ demonstration, it was quite effective in dispersing them. I didn’t know student could run that fast on empty stomachs. Some did not eat breakfast before joining the demo, but when the tear gas came, they exhibited excellent footwork, taking off in Olympic fashion, Bravo!
In any case, the topic cannot be exhausted without reflecting on another aspect of the IGP’s speech at the opening of a refresher course for Police Inspectors. He noted that even if a police Officer suffers any form of death at the hands of a criminal in the course of protecting life and property, the tragedy of the policeman’s death does not evoke any sympathy whatsoever from the public.
I think that is a good point to ponder, and it brings into question the idea of self-defense on the part of policemen. Should a policeman, for instance, kill a criminal who is out to cause harm or death to him? It needs to be debated because both the policeman and the dangerous criminal have the right to life.
Anyhow, the embarrassment being caused to the IGP by some careless policeman is well expressed. The problem is that when a policeman fires a warming shot that causes injury, people do not blame only the policeman. They also blame the government. It is just like someone who blamed the government when his mother-in-law slapped him hard in the eye. I don’t know whether he wanted the government to receive the slap on his behalf.
At any rate, customs officers who are also trigger-happy and misuse weapons in the performance of their duties will be sanctioned. In fact, they’ll be sacked! Sounds deterring isn’t it?
This article was first published on Saturday November 14, 1998
GHANA’S Parliament is a peaceful one. The arguments on the floor of the House can be fierce, but the House doesn’t catch fire. Ghana’s democracy has passed the acid-test of constitutional pluralism, and her legislature is a model of democratic beauty others are learning from.
Sometimes it is edifying following proceedings in Parliament and you are likely to catch the voice of Honourable Alban Bagbin in full flight. He doesn’t talk much. His English vocabulary does the talking.
Last week, I heard another MP talking on bad dressing, and I must congratulate him on his brilliant exhibition of vocabulary, delivered in Westminster tradition.
Such explosive delivery titillates the floor of the House and brings joy to members and Mr Speaker.
In the parliament of some countries, there is no need for such niceties. The floor of the House is regarded as a battle ground. Others, including lady members, see it as a boxing ring, where the spoken word is often jettisoned and supplanted with punches and upper-cuts.
PART-TIME
So the average parliamentarian trains part-time as a boxer, in case boxing skills will be needed in the House to iron out knotty points.
The ladies’ pedicure and manicure are carefully designed to fulfil a dual purpose. One is to showcase trendiness and the other is to scratch the faces of opponents in the House whether they are ladies or gentlemen.
Sometimes, the Speaker has to keep shouting and banging for well over 15 minutes as a recalcitrant MP dashes across and grabs the tie of another MP, thus precipitating a free-for-all brawl. Some MPs return home with a half nose, a missing left ear and a double forehead.
None of the offending parties is sanctioned because brawling in parliament is seen as a democratic process, since some MPs are so stubborn that only a sidekick to the ribs can mellow them. Meanwhile, a free-for-all is good exercise for the MPs, some of whom have grown too fat due to over-feeding.
Fortunately, the parliament of Sikaman has a civil democratic culture and debates get fierce but punches are not unleashed. For comic relief however, MPs do some break dancing once in a while.
When ROPAB was passed into law, some MPs caused a stir by bursting into song and dance. Mr. Speaker was be wildered, but obviously pleased that his announcement of the passage of the bill had brought joy to the House.
Others were not happy, though. The bill and the debates had caused them enough distress. As for the passage, it was like cutting their throats. They groaned in their hearts. No punches, no karate. That is democracy in its maturing stage. It is tempered with reason and civility. One day, it will be their turn to laugh and dance.
Now, the MP who spoke on bad dressing did a good job by all standards and added value to his delivery by going highfalutin. He wanted a law to be enacted against bad dressing, because it was not good for society.
What constitutes bad dressing? That is a very difficult question. Judging what is good or bad as far as dressing is concerned will obviously depend on the setting or context.
For example, going virtually naked on a holiday beach is considered good dressing. But when a man and his wife storm a church room in their birth-time suits (naked) the pastor and his deacons will surely take cover. It means a sartorial revolution has precipitated and only the Holy Spirit can hold tempers at bay.
STYLISH
In the streets of Sikaman, a lady with a very short skirt is admired by some as trendy and stylish. Others would think she is indecent and a bad influence. But the question that arises ultimately is this: Don’t people have the right to wear what they want to wear, so long as the unseemly parts of their bodies are not laid bare?
Certainly, nobody will go totally naked in the streets, unless the person is either in-sane or is a Black Stars supporter painted in the national colours. Even then, he’d be in what is called ‘pioto,’ with his ‘instrument’ well-positioned. That is called proper dressing.
So in the streets, this kind of dressing will be considered good or bad depending on the setting and the extent of exposure of the private parts (breasts, thighs, lower back, buttocks, etc).
Personally, I feel the churches should be very scrupulous about the dressing of those who go in to worship. The ushers should be tasked with ushering away badly-dressed worshippers. Incidentally, they are the worshippers who like the front pews, and the pastor is so distracted he can’t preach any meaningful sermon.
However, a law on dressing is something I won’t advocate, for the simple reason that, first, there is no clear definition of what is bad dressing and second, society must be left to evolve its own dress culture so that fashion and creativity in fashion design will not be stifle Any law to regulate dressing will kill such creativity.
This article was first published on Saturday July, 2006
Most people think stress is just in your head. When you feel overwhelmed, overworked, or emotionally drained, you might think you just need a good night’s sleep or a quick mental break.
However, science and biology show us something entirely different. Chronic, long-term stress is not just an emotion—it is a full-body physical condition. When you live in a constant state of survival mode, pushing past your limits without real rest, your body pays a very heavy physical price.
Here is a clear, step-by-step look at how ongoing stress physically breaks down the human body, explained simply.
Step 1: The endless flood of stress chemicals
What happens normally: When you face a sudden emergency, your body releases stress hormones like adrenaline and cortisol. They give you a quick burst of energy, speed up your heart, and help you react fast. This is a great survival tool for short bursts.
How stress breaks you down: If you never truly relax, your body never turns off that alarm. Your bloodstream stays flooded with cortisol and adrenaline day after day. Over time, having these chemicals constantly sloshing around acts like a slow poison. It damages your blood vessels, raises your blood pressure, messes with your metabolism, and even wears down your DNA, making you age faster.
Step 2: The silent internal fire (Chronic Inflammation)
What happens normally: When your brain senses danger or stress, it assumes you might get hurt, so it tells your immune system to cause inflammation (swelling and heat) to fight off germs and heal injuries.
How stress breaks you down: When stress lasts for months or years, your immune system gets confused and leaves that “fire” burning permanently. Instead of healing an injury, this silent internal inflammation starts attacking your healthy cells, joints, and organs. Over time, it paves the way for serious health issues, heart trouble, and total body fatigue.
Step 3: Turning your muscles into armor (Fascial Hardening)
What happens normally: Your body is wrapped in a web of strong connective tissue called fascia that holds your muscles, bones, and organs together. When you face pressure or trauma, that tissue automatically tightens up to protect you like a suit of armor.
How stress breaks you down: If you stay tense for years, that tissue never softens back up. It freezes in place, creating tight, painful physical knots (often called emotional lesions). Blood and oxygen can’t flow easily through those locked-up areas, leaving you stiff, aching, and physically unable to truly let go of tension.
Step 4: Burning out your body’s engine (Nervous System Overdrive)
What happens normally: Your nervous system has two main gears:
The Gas Pedal (fight-or-flight mode for dealing with emergencies).
The Brake Pedal (rest-and-digest mode for healing and repairing your body).
How stress breaks you down: Chronic stress forces your foot down hard on the gas pedal 24/7. Your heart beats faster than it should, your digestion shuts down, and your body is denied the deep rest it needs to repair itself. Eventually, your heart and nervous system run completely out of fuel from sheer exhaustion.
Reclaiming your health and sovereignty
Chronic stress wears you down slowly by keeping your body chemically toxic, inflamed, and locked-up in physical armour, and running on empty.
By understanding that stress is a physical breakdown rather than just a bad mood, you can stop glorifying endless endurance. It allows you to recognise when your body is screaming for a reset, helping you shift away from burnout and back toward true physical calm, balance, and sovereignty.
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