Features
Celebrating Ghana’s 65th Independence Anniversary for what achievement?
The nation Ghana, celebrated its 65th independence anniversary after freeing itself from British colonial administration in 1957. This year’s celebration took place in the Central Regional capital, Cape Coast, on Sunday, March 6, 2022, under the theme, “Working together, bouncing back together”. The usual euphoria, ecstasy and funfair that were associated with past celebrations were in vogue.
It was delightful to watch a match past of combined team from the security services and school children drawn from the Cape Coast Municipality. The Head of State, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, took the salute. In attendance were the Vice President, Alhaji Mahamadu Bawumia and his wife Samira, Mrs Rebecca Akufo-Addo, wife of the President and other dignitaries including the Prime Minister of Barbados who was the Special Guest of Honour.
TRIBUTE TO THE ‘BIG SIX’
The achievement chalked so far by the country would not have been possible without paying tribute to the efforts of the Founding Fathers of the United Gold Coast Convention (UGCC), popularly referred to as “The Big Six”. They were, Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, Ebenezer Ako-Adjei, Edward Akufo-Addo, Joseph Boakye Danquah, Emmanuel Obetsebi-Lamptey and William Ofori-Atta, all of blessed memory.
History tells us that in August 1947, these great men laid the foundation for the Gold Coast’s struggle for independence of which Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah became the first Prime Minister of Ghana. In his maiden speech, Dr. Nkrumah said, “At long last, the battle has ended, and thus, Ghana your beloved country is free forever.” He did not end there but went further to state that, “Our independence is meaningless unless it is linked up with the total liberation of Africa”.
Dr. Nkrumah later became Ghana’s first elected president, having won on the ticket of the Convention People’s Party (CPP). Nkrumah’s tenure as president was short-lived and was overthrown in a coup led by Col. Emmanuel Kwasi Kotoka on February 24, 1966.
FOURTH REPUBLICAN ERA
In 1992, Ghana ushered in the Fourth Republican era with Jerry John Rawlings being elected president on the ticket of the National Democratic Congress (NDC). It was during his reign that the 1992 Constitution of Ghana was drafted by some eminent citizens of the land. Since then, Ghanaians have continued to live under a democratic rule. After Rawlings, President John Agyekum Kufuor of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) took over from 2001 to January 6, 2009. The NDC assumed power again under the leadership of Prof. John Evans Atta Mills from 2009 until his demise on July 24, 2012. His vice, John Dramani Mahama, assumed the presidency and completed the term of his boss. In 2013, President Mahama assisted the NDC to retain power. He served his term until January 6, 2017, when he handed over to a newly elected President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo who rode on the ticket of the NPP to power. Currently, the NPP continues to govern the country after Nana Akufo-Addo being re-elected in 2020 general election.
VIEWS OF GHANAIANS ON THE CURRENT STATE OF THE ECONOMY
This brief history I have painted, tells us where we came from and where we are at the moment. Indeed, the country has made remarkable strides as far the democratic journey is concerned. However, we need to ask ourselves whether as Ghanaians, we are comfortable with the cost of living and, indeed, our living standards as we celebrate our 65th independence anniversary.
Sampling the views of Ghanaians about the current state of affairs as connected to the living standard of the people, one can conclude that times are very hard and people just cannot make ends meet. The general view is that the economy continues to go down and that nothing is working properly. To most Ghanaians, there is nothing to celebrate as far as the 65th independence anniversary is concerned because people are not in the right frame of mind. They allude that the general strike by workers of various public institutions, speaks volume of how the country has gone down the drain. Some allude that the country is suffering and currently is at the ‘intensive care unit of the hospital’.
WORLD BANK COUNTRY DIRECTOR’S ASSESMENT OF GHANA’S ECONOMY
In the words of the Country Director of the World Bank, “Ghana’s economic situation is very serious. Ghana faces a tough time to restore macro-economic sustainability. International rating agencies downgrade Ghana’s creditworthiness. Government struggling to pass key legislation in Parliament”.
Mr. Pierre Larporte, Director of World Bank for Ghana, who recently addressed an anniversary public lecture organised by OneGhana Movement on March 7, 2022, asked the government to be transparent with the citizens. “At the World Bank, we have not hidden the fact when we have held discussions with government officials and even Head of State that, even Ghana faces a very tough road ahead to restore macro sustainability. Yes, COVID-19 has not helped. But even before COVID-19, there were signs that the situation was getting a little bit challenging. So, the key thing is to be transparent with the people. Yes, the figures speak for themselves, but not everybody is educated as we are. Not everyone understands what the numbers mean, so it is important to talk about it like we are doing. More important is for us to find solutions to the problem,” the Country Director said
SUGGESTIONS FROM KWESI BOTCHWEY
On the other hand, a former Finance Minister, Prof. Kwesi Botchwey, has proposed some solutions to deal with the downward trend of the country’s economy and restore the confidence reposed in it over the years. According to him with the pace the country was going, it would not be able to move the bulk of its poor out of poverty in another generation. His suggestion was that the country needed to build consensus around the reforms that were necessary to resolve the nation’s creditworthiness.
To him, the real problem with our public finances was structural and would require a thorough review of all sources of pressure in the budget including every flagship programme and its sustainability and impact, all options must be on the table. We must not for instance, transition temporary spending incurred during the pandemic into public spending, when we are already struggling to collect revenues.
These are suggestions the government may have to consider irrespective of political party affiliation. We are in the boat together, and we can sink together when the situation demands. Therefore, it is important to welcome divergent and concrete suggestions and views from people with rich economic backgrounds to salvage the economy from total collapse.
INVESTORS’ POSITIONS ON CAPITAL MARKETS
Meanwhile on the international capital markets, we are being told that investors have signalled uncertainty about economic outlook and prospects of Ghana. Key rating agencies such as Moody’s Investor Services and Fitch Ratings we are told had all downgraded Ghana’s creditworthiness.
The on-going Russian-Ukraine terrible incident with serious ramifications in countries worldwide has aggravated the already hard conditions in Ghana affecting the generality of Ghanaians. Almost everything in Ghana, staple food items, water and even salt have seen an astronomical increase in price levels. As for the increases in fuel prices, there is nothing good to write about because almost every week, the prices are increased.
GHANAIANS NEED GOVERNMENT’S SUPPORT
Ghanaians are, indeed, suffering and are finding it difficult to make ends meet as goods and services are not affordable.For now, it is important for the government to find ways of mitigating the hardship of the suffering masses in the midst of the economic challenges, otherwise the celebration of the country’s 65th independence anniversary stands to be meaningless to the people.
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By Charles Neequaye
Features
Who knows tomorrow?
Recently a friend posted a sad news on his Facebook page, announcing the death of a school mate who had passed away, suddenly. The report had it that he was on his way to the airport to take a flight to Ghana.
I am sure this man had already informed the wife or a friend or a work colleague at work that he was returning home but he was not to return as a human being but as a dead body.
Such is life and so we need to be circumspect in how we go about things in life. The Bible reminds us that we are like grass which at one point in time looks elegant and the next moment becomes withered according to Psalm 90:5 and 6. It is for this reason that we need to guard our hearts with the word of God so that we shall be motivated to do the right thing, at all times.
This will enable us live on this planet, free from all sorts of troubles in our personal lives, even if we ignore the question of Heaven and Hell. Living a disciplined life delivers us from any kind of trouble as the Bible declares in Galatians 5:23 that against such there is no law.
The uncertainty surrounding our lives on earth is the more reason why people should commit their lives into the hands of the one who created it, in the first place unless you believe that the world created itself and that it appeared from nowhere.
Otherwise, the logical thing to do is to recognize the authority of the creator and surrender to his Lordship. Heaven is real and Hell is real, so for us who know the truth and have received Jesus as our Lord and Saviour, the onus lies on us to encourage our relations who have not believed and received Jesus into their lives, to do so.
We are a couple of days from another Easter Resurrection celebration and an opportunity to reflect on our lives in relation to the significance of Easter. In the Bible, the only occasion Jesus, Saviour of the world commands us to celebrate is his death and resurrection.
He never commanded his followers to celebrate his birth but like everything else, we chose to ignore Jesus’s instructions and decided to do what pleases us, just like our forefather and mother in the Garden of Eden.
Let us deliberately choose to do things differently as Christians this Easter, so we can really benefit from all the blessings that the celebration of the death and birth of Jesus, has on offer. Doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result is definitely insanity.
I choose to be different this Easter and I am believing God for a newness of life so God’s glory would be revealed in me to draw the unsaved to him. It is only when people especially the unsaved, see the character of Christ in us, that they can be convinced about the authenticity of Jesus, as Saviour of the world, who can bring transformation in their lives too.
This is what would motivate them to surrender their lives to Jesus Christ. Let us make this Easter a memorable one that will be cherished for a long time. It is also a period for reconciliation and it would be great if in the spirit of Easter, we would try to reach out to those who have wronged us or have a grudge against us.
This would demonstrate that we have indeed accepted Jesus and that our religious posture is not a sham. May the good Lord grant us the grace to love our neighbours as ourselves, demonstrating the love of God in the process.
Those who have lost their loved ones and Easter brings sad memories, may the good Lord comfort and strengthen you. God bless.
.NB: ‘CHANGE KOTOKA INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT TO KOFI BAAKO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT’
Features
Cosmetic deformities
COSMETIC deformities refer to physical imperfections or abnormalities that affect an individual’s appearance, often causing emotional distress and impacting their quality of life.
These deformities can be congenital, acquired, or result from various medical conditions or treatments. This article provides an in-depth exploration of cosmetic deformities, their types, causes, effects, and treatment options.
Types of cosmetic deformities
Cosmetic deformities can affect various parts of the body, including the face, skin, hair, nails, and teeth. Some common types of cosmetic deformities include:
1. Facial deformities: Congenital or acquired abnormalities affecting the shape, structure, or appearance of the face, such as cleft lip and palate, facial paralysis, or facial asymmetry.
2. Skin deformities: Conditions affecting the skin’s texture, tone, or appearance, such as acne, scars, birthmarks, or skin discoloration.
3. Hair deformities: Abnormalities affecting the hair’s growth, texture, or appearance, such as alopecia, hirsutism, or hair loss due to medical conditions or treatments.
4. Nail deformities: Conditions affecting the shape, size, or appearance of the nails, such as nail fungus, nail psoriasis, or nail trauma.
5. Dental deformities: Abnormalities affecting the shape, size, or appearance of the teeth, such as tooth decay, tooth loss, or malocclusion.
Causes of cosmetic deformities
Cosmetic deformities can result from various factors, including:
1. Genetics: Congenital conditions or inherited traits can cause cosmetic deformities.
2. Trauma: Injuries or accidents can result in cosmetic deformities, such as scars or facial trauma.
3. Medical conditions: Certain medical conditions, such as acne, psoriasis, or eczema, can cause cosmetic deformities.
4. Treatments and procedures: Medical treatments, such as chemotherapy, radiation therapy, or surgery, can result in cosmetic deformities.
5. Aging and environmental factors: Aging, sun exposure, and environmental factors can contribute to cosmetic deformities, such as wrinkles, fine lines, or age spots.
Effects of cosmetic deformities
Cosmetic deformities can have significant emotional and psychological effects on individuals, including:
1. Low self-esteem: Cosmetic deformities can lead to feelings of insecurity, self-consciousness, and low self-esteem.
2. Social anxiety: Individuals with cosmetic deformities may experience social anxiety, avoiding social interactions or feeling embarrassed in public.
3. Emotional distress: Cosmetic deformities can cause emotional distress, including depression, anxiety, or stress.
4. Impact on quality of life: Cosmetic deformities can affect an individual’s quality of life, impacting their relationships, career, or overall well-being.
Treatment options for cosmetic deformities
Various treatment options are available to address cosmetic deformities, including:
1. Surgical procedures: Surgical procedures, such as reconstructive surgery, cosmetic surgery, or dermatological surgery, can correct or improve cosmetic deformities.
2. Non-surgical treatments: Non-surgical treatments, such as laser therapy, chemical peels, or microdermabrasion, can address cosmetic concerns, such as skin texture, tone, or appearance.
3. Medical treatments: Medical treatments, such as topical creams, oral medications, or injectable treatments, can address cosmetic concerns, such as acne, hair loss, or nail deformities.
4. Prosthetic and orthotic devices: Prosthetic and orthotic devices, such as wigs, hairpieces, or dental prosthetics, can help individuals with cosmetic deformities.
5. Counselling and therapy: Counselling and therapy, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy or psychotherapy, can help individuals cope with the emotional and psychological effects of cosmetic deformities.
Conclusion
Cosmetic deformities can have significant emotional and psychological effects on individuals, impacting their quality of life and overall well-being.
Understanding the types, causes, and effects of cosmetic deformities is crucial in addressing these concerns.
Various treatment options are available, ranging from surgical procedures to non-surgical treatments, medical treatments, prosthetic and orthotic devices, and counselling and therapy.
By seeking professional help and support, individuals with cosmetic deformities can improve their appearance, boost their self-esteem, and enhance their overall quality of life.
Reference
1. “Cosmetic Deformities” by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons
