Features
Trigger-happiness and the human liver
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
I saw a video of two young men mistreating a guy in school uniform. The manner in which a man in a white shirt was stamping on the head of the student on the ground and kicking him, was heart wrenching. It was like a scene from an action movie.
Comments in the video made me to understand that the two people engaged in the dastardly attack on the chap on the ground were teachers. How teachers who had been trained by teacher training institutions could do what they did, defies logic; simply mind boggling.
This brings the issue of screening of would-be teachers to mind. Is there a psychological vetting system in place to identify unsuitable characters like those two teachers so that they are barred from being teachers or are helped to have the right mindset as teachers? We cannot continue to let the status quo remain and expect a different result.
Digitalisation of the economy has brought in its wake a whole lot of ways that seeks to address pertinent socio-economic issues. One of them is the introduction of the TraffiTech-GH system of regulating traffic flow without human intervention.
This clearly is an innovative way of enforcing compliance which obviously would ensure discipline and therefore safety on our roads. The drivers are raising some issues which are legitimate and must be addressed as soon as possible or should I rather say immediately.
If a Bus Stop is occupied by traders and therefore the drivers cannot stop for passengers to alight or board, they would have no option than to park in the road, blocking traffic flow, which would be an offence that TraffiTech-GH would capture as a violation and punish accordingly, by imposing a fine.
A very sad incident occurred last week resulting in the senseless murder of an uncle and her niece in the Greater Accra Region. The story making the rounds on social media was that, the uncle took a loan from the suspected murderer but failed to honour his obligation to pay back the money.
The suspect accompanied by a lady, went to the residence in the Sakumono area and a heated argument ensued, resulting in the suspect shooting the Uncle and her niece in the process. The first question that came to mind was that “Why did they not allow patience to carry the day?” If it is true that the uncle indeed owed the man, he ought to have maintained a certain demeanor that portrayed a willingness to pay the money and not to enrage the suspect in any way.
Again, if someone owes you, you do not take the law into your hands by going to confront him with a loaded gun in your pocket. The proliferation of small arms must be given serious attention.
The leaders in the educational sector need to sit up to address the misbehaviour of both students and teachers, especially the teachers who have been sexually harassing students. The fallout, in the recent Obuasi Senior High School (SHS) issue, has been an official statement directing teachers not to ask students to work in their bungalows.
This code has been in the books of the Ghana Education Service (GES) all this while. It is nothing new and so like everything else in this country, the issue is not the lack of laws but the enforcement. What I find surprising is that after breaking this code of ethics, the GES has not sacked the notorious Headmaster who evidence has been established beyond reasonable doubt that he had grossly flouted this regulation, repeatedly. This is a gross failure on the part of leadership, from the ministry level down to the school level. This must not be allowed to repeat itself. God bless.
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Implant-based reconstruction recovery
Implant reconstruction is generally less invasive during the initial phase, allowing for a quicker return to baseline daily activities.
Initial healing window: Most patients resume light, non-strenuous daily tasks within 2 to 4 weeks.
Activity Restrictions: Heavy lifting, intense upper-body exercises, and high-impact movements are typically restricted for four to six weeks to allow the chest tissues to secure the implant or expander.
The expansion phase: If a temporary tissue expander is used, recovery includes periodic office visits over several months where the surgeon gradually adds sterile fluid to stretch the skin.
Physical therapy focus: Gentle arm and shoulder stretches begin early to prevent stiffness, frozen shoulder, and tight scar tissue formation around the implant pocket.
Autologous (Tissue-Based) reconstruction recovery
Autologous reconstruction (such as a DIEP flap) is a more complex, major operation because it involves two distinct surgical sites: the reconstructed chest mound and the donor harvest area (usually the lower abdomen).
Initial healing window: Requires a hospital stay of two to five days, with an overall recovery period of six to eight weeks before resuming normal routines.
Donor site management: Because abdominal muscles or tissues are involved, patients must avoid bending, twisting, or lifting anything heavier than a gallon of milk for at least six weeks to protect the deep facial repairs.
Mobility milestones: Recovery starts with short, gentle indoor walks immediately after surgery to promote circulation and prevent blood clots, gradually building up distance each week.
Physical therapy focus: Postural retraining and cautious core re-engagement once the surgeon gives medical clearance, ensuring the abdominal wall heals securely without strain.
Essential rehabilitation practices
Regardless of the chosen surgical path, effective physical therapy incorporates specialised techniques to restore physical freedom:
Scar mobilisation: Professional massage techniques to soften surgical scars and prevent tight binding of underlying tissues.
Lymphatic drainage: Gentle massage protocols to reduce swelling and encourage fluid movement through the lymphatic pathways.
Let’s pull together everything we have talked about into one simple, easy-to-understand guide.
Here is a summary of the complete journey-from understanding what breast cancer is and busting myths, to managing emotions and navigating surgery and recovery.
1. Is surgery a “cure”?
What it means: A mastectomy (removing the breast) is a powerful tool to take out the local tumor, but it isn’t an automatic, guaranteed cure on its own.
The Example: Think of it like pulling a weed out of a garden. You got the main plant out, but if tiny seeds or roots already spread elsewhere in the soil, you still need extra care (like medication) to make sure they don’t grow back.
2. The cancer’s “personality” (Biomarkers)
What it means: Not all breast cancers are the same. Doctors test the cancer cells for specific “locks and labels” (like hormones or proteins) to figure out how fast they grow and what medicine will stop them.
The Example: It’s like figuring out what kind of fuel a car engine takes (gasoline, diesel, or electricity) so you know exactly how to fix or run it.
3. Busting common myths
The Reality: Many rumors about breast cancer are false.
Men can get breast cancer too (about one per cent of cases) because everyone has a small amount of breast tissue.
Most lumps are harmless (like a harmless pebble in your shoe, not a dangerous nail).
Underwire bras and deodorants do not cause cancer.
Most people diagnosed (about 85 per cent) have no family history of it, which is why regular checks are vital for everyone.
By Robert Ekow Grimmond-Thompson
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