Features
Accra: Helping Henry Quartey to succeed
The Greater Accra Region has an estimated urban population of 4.2 million as at June 2020.
Metropolitan Accra is said to occupy a land surface of 173 square kilometres or 67 square miles.
And on daily basis, residents, visitors and commuters who ply their trades within Metropolitan Accra complain bitterly about pollution, overcrowding, poor sanitation and particularly traffic congestion in the city.
The fact of the matter is that indiscipline; lack of adequate infrastructure and service provision; poverty and shortage of affordable housing are undermining the traditional civilising influence of the city of Accra.
It is in the face of such agonising dilemma that has emerged “a new Ghanaian”, recently appointed by the President to oversee the Greater Accra Region.
The “new Ghanaian”, Mr Henry Quartey, was appointed the Greater Accra Regional Minister barely five months ago, but the momentum he has gathered to warm himself into his new office, has attracted commendations across the country.
Readers, from all indications, Mr Henry Quartey clearly understands the vision of the President in appointing him the current Greater Accra Regional Minister. And the vision of His Excellency Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo is: “Making Accra the cleanest city in Africa”, before the end of his term as President of the Republic of Ghana.
Readers, Accra is very filthy!!! Traffic congestion is terrible!!! And sanitation is very poor!!! As for indiscipline in the city, it is at its worst!!! So, really, the task ahead of Mr Quartey is a helculean one.
But for him to succeed in implementing the President’s vision, he must be supported by “the people” because it is “the people ” who will be the beneficiaries of the President’s vision, if it is successfully delivered.
It seems Mr Quartey knows exactly what he has been assigned to do. So, the Greater Accra Regional Coordinating Council, which he heads, seems to have done a lot of ‘stakeholder’ consultations; implying that they have already hit the ground ‘jumping’ to deliver the President’s vision.
But Mr Quartey and the Regional Coordinating Council must be reminded that the ‘stakeholder’ consultations must not only continue but also expanded and consciously sustained, so as to carry all the stakeholders along until the end of the implementation of the vision.
And a vision like this will surely call for the establishment of Inter-Ministerial Taskforce to push the lofty agenda to succeed.
The Regional Coordinating Council (RCC) could set up Media Taskforce also to support the vision. Additionally, the RCC could invite all editors, and Chief Executive Officers of radio and television stations, newspaper houses, advertising and marketing institutions to buy into the “national Interest idea” of “making Accra work”.
The RCC could as well share ideas with advertisers to produce jingles for radio and television stations to alert the public on the “dos” and “don’ts” of sanitation issues, hawking on the streets, sleeping under bridges and many more.
So far Mr Quartey and his sanitation taskforce have been sprucing many parts of Metropolitan Accra, besides demolishing unauthorised structures along major routes and drains to ensure free-flow of traffic and to keep the city clean.
The sprawling Agbogbloshie market has also been relocated and the structures on the land demolished to improve sanitation or conditions in that part of the nation’s capital.
Mr Quartey says:”We want to ensure that Accra is clean. We also want to ensure that Accra is like the Dubai and the America you want to go to.
“So, we will remove unauthorised structures that have sprung all over the city, thus, making it difficult for even sanitation and waste management companies to go about their duties.”
Since Ghana’s independence, various regimes had attempted to transform Accra into “the desired city” but had failed.
Experts, however, say Accra has experienced a rapid rate of growth, stressing that, “it is one of the fastest-growing cities in West Africa.”
According to the experts, another dimension of Accra’s urban growth is the physical expansion of the city beyond its official boundaries.
The experts contend that two major factors are principally responsible for this. The first, they say, is demand-based, which is associated with rapid growth of urban population.
The second factor stresses on poor government services, crime, congestion and poor sanitation.
Really, the experts insist that a weak urban administration and governance system has been the bane of urban development in Ghana, generally.
This, they contend, derives from “the inadequate local government system inherited from the colonial era.”
But the painful truth is that the current Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies have proved incapable of providing and managing adequate levels of services and infrastructure in their respective areas of jurisdiction.
And the national parastatal organisations and agencies responsible for providing particular services in the decentralised Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies have not been able to function effectively.
So, how can earger and anxious Mr. Henry Quartey walk on “the tight rope ” of “Making Accra Work” , if he does not receive Inter-Ministerial support and the required FUNDING to prosecute such a laudable vision of the President?
By G. Frank Asmah
Features
The Prophet part 2
“I can see in the spirit, that some of you have been trading for years without seeing any meaningful profits, some young women have been disappointed by men who have either abandoned them and left for foreign lands and forgotten about them, or stopped sending money for the upkeep of their wives and children.
I can see young men who are desperate for visas to travel abroad but have either been duped by visa contractors or refused at the embassies. From tomorrow, I assure you, the visas will be given.
Young women, I have news for you. You will receive telephone calls, and you will hear very good news. Handsome young men with money in their pockets will come and marry you, and take care of you. Traders, you will get big business and big profits from today. From today, you will see that I am a true prophet who has come to deliver you.”
Shouts of “Amen,” “thank you Prophet” and “I receive it” greeted his sermon. After a final prayer, he asked the congregation to come early the following day, and bring others, because there would be many testimonies.
There would also be “special anointing” for great miracles. Although he did not ask for an offering, most of the people came and dropped notes, and coins at the “pulpit.” When they left, Antobam counted the money.
“GH¢900!” he almost shouted, ‘and I did not even ask for an offering. This is fantabulous!’ Going to the Nana Kofi Broni shrine, he told himself, was a very wise move.
He started making plans……He had to choose a few assistants who would carry out his orders……. He had to hire some chairs as soon as possible……He had to find a suitable piece of land and, if possible, build his own church……. He had to start looking for a nice car, befitting the status of a popular preacher …… And, most importantly, he had to select two, three or four nice, young women to take care of his needs, apart from the servants who would cook, wash, iron and do other errands for him.
Abruptly, he told himself, this hungry, scruffy Kukurantumi boy was being transformed into a man of power and money, with some of the most beautiful women in town at his beck and call. Wow!
After a shower and supper, he shut the door to the very small room that served as his bedroom and dropped on the bed. Almost immediately, the shrill sounds, like whispers, began.
This time he did not express any fears. He realised to his great surprise that even though the sounds were not in the form of any language, he could understand them.
Tomorrow there will be testimonies……they will give money……. some rich people are being prepared …….they will bring big money ………. we will give them what they want, and they will bring money ……. big money …….big, big money……the women will also come, a number of them. ‘
He went to sleep smiling and whispering to himself, ‘big, big money, and women!’
He woke up at 5 and took a shower. After a breakfast of tea and several slices of bread he set off. On reaching the venue he saw to his great surprise that the place was full.
Very full, and quite a number of people rushed to embrace him and give him the wonderful news. The excited people narrated the testimonies about big sales, telephone calls from relatives directing them to go to Western Union, and impotent husbands who had miraculously rediscovered their magic powers.
He was truly glad that Nana Kofi Broni’s magic had already started working, but most of his attention was focused on the ladies in the congregation. He noticed to his great delight that some of them were really nice. I must start making my selection, he told himself. Today!
“Give a mighty clap offering to the great, mighty one for his wonders among us!” he started, and the response was very big.
“I said yesterday that you were going to see signs and wonders, and I am very happy that my word has been fulfilled. Even though we have taken allowed one hour for testimonies, many more of you would like to testify.
Tomorrow, I promise you that there will be ample time. I will only preach a short sermon. The rest of the time will be taken up by consultations, after which I will give directions on what to do to ensure that you defeat your enemies, secure your marriage and, most importantly, continue increasing your profits in your business.” His sermon was interspersed with ecstatic shouts of “Amen,” “it is true,” “God bless you” and “I receive it.”
His final word was emphatic; “Big miracles are coming your way. Keep attending church, and don’t forget to give thanks to God.”
By Ekow de Heer
Features
Full Gospel Businessmen Fellowship launches project to transform young lives
The Full Gospel Businessmen’s Fellowship International (FGBMFI) Ghana has launched the Senior High Schools and Colleges Project (SCP) aimed at empowering and transforming the lives of young people.
Speaking at the launch, Professor Mike Ocquaye, the former Speaker of Parliament, emphasised the need to catch them young and train them as the current times were challenging.
He lauded the project, calling on all to support it, saying “In fact, it’s very important to catch them young, train them, lead them, guide them, and mentor them because the times are indeed rough,” Prof. Ocquaye said.
Mr Ekow Egyir Dadson, the Director, Schools and Colleges Directorate, stated that since its inception in 2018, the SCP had reached over 70 educational institutions with countless testimonies of transformation.
“We began with the Presbyterian Boys Secondary School (PRESEC) Legon, and now in 2024, we have visited 74 schools and impacted the lives of over 100,000 students, some of whom were personally mentored and now have graduated from the universities.”
He explained that the SCP, a vision by FGBMFI Ghana, was a bold outreach programme designed to call young people to Christ, train and equip them for the future.
He cited testimony-sharing, mentorship, career guidance, entrepreneurship and counseling as some of the unique approaches to be used in reaching out to the targeted students.
Mr Emmanuel Baba Mahama, the National President of the FGBMFI Ghana, launched the SCP Manual, which would help the FGBMFI Zonal Family Chapters across Ghana in order to adopt schools and colleges within their catchment areas.
The Schools and Colleges project is making a great impact; we have had first-hand testimonies from school heads, teachers, and students (mentees) about the SCP. This project has come to stay, Mr Baba Mahama assured.
He, therefore, called for more volunteers and partners to help the SCP shape the next generation of leaders and citizens.
Findings by the FGBMFI revealed that Ghana’s senior high schools, colleges, and university students face growing challenges like addictions, indiscipline, poor academic performance, pornography, homosexuality, broken homes, and a lack of godly guidance.
That had been a concern to many parents and society, “but the FGBMFI believes there is hope to rescue and restore these young students,” Mr Mahama said. –GNA
