Editorial
Indecency in the name of fashion?
Dear Editor,
The purpose of clothes is to cover our bodies, but presently, the youth would rather wear transparent and tattered clothes and term it as “slaying” or “drip”.
Funnily enough, these transparent and tattered clothes are more expensive than regular or let me say, “full coverage” clothes. I went through Instagram and the prices were shocking.
I happened to come across a lady, who was wearing a pair of tattered jeans trousers, that had an open front (the whole thigh to ankle area was bare), even her bum area, was tattered.
I asked myself this question: What had happened to morals? Have people forgotten that, the way we dress, speaks a lot about us?
Braids among men, seem to be common amongst the present day youth and some women also have multiple piercings to the extreme of piercing their nipples and clitoris.
Some adults and popular persons who dress this way, take pictures and post on social media platforms. Others wear inappropriate clothes to church and when asked, they say: “Worship is from the heart and not with what you wear”.
We have copied Western cultures but do we see these people we are copying from, go the extreme we are going? Indecency has been covered up with the term “fashion” by the present day youth.
Sabina Nortey,
Student, Ghana Institute of Journalism.
Dealing with social media ‘pressure’
Social networking has now gained grounds and become a driving force on its own. Inasmuch as social media has done us some good, it has, to some extent, caused us to compare our lives with others.
Many people tend to think or assume that posts made on social media reflect in real life when in actuality, most of them are ‘staged events’.
A lot of people have built a certain personality online which doesn’t correspond with their lifestyle in real life and it is sometimes tempting to think that some colleagues are doing better than you.
As it appears that some people are manipulated or influenced by things they view on social media, it is important to provide support for young people who find themselves in this ‘quagmire.’
Parents need to monitor their children who are exposed to social media and lookout also for signs of depression, anxiety, misbehaviour, and among others.
Parents should learn to appreciate the efforts of their kids. Encourage them, teach them to believe in themselves, and become positive-minded individuals.
Individuals should follow people who share the same values and interests as theirs and do well to avoid people who indulge in unhealthy activities such as drugs, alcoholism, among other negative things.
It is important to follow positive things only and try to network with people who have the same interests.
Nathalie Afful,
Student, Ghana Institute of Journalism.
Editorial
Fix railway crossing point on Circle-Kaneshie road
Dear Editor,
After the construction of the Kwame Nkrumah Interchange (Accra Dubai), Ghanaian were full of belief that it could solve at least a few of the problems drivers and commuters faced.
But currently, any regular user of the area would confirm that things have rather skyrocketed.
Sanitation is a big issue as the area. Traffic congestion has become something else while street lights and traffic lights in the area are nonfunctional.
Making matters worse is the regular traffic on the stretch of the Circle-Kaneshie caused by the bad nature of the railway crossing.
It is so bad that motorist are forced to slow down to cross from whichever direction they are coming from.
During the rainy season, it becomes worse as vehicles break down in the large pool of water that gathers at the place.
I wish to appeal to the Roads and Highways ministry or whichever agency is responsible for road maintenance to fix that part of the road.
As a result, public transport operators are forced to divert routes to avoid that area and in the process, causing commotion between drivers and passengers.
I feel that problem must be fixed before the rains set in. Thank you for the space.
Awuah Martin,
Kasoa, C/R
Editorial
Make celebration of Heritage Month compulsory
Heritage or Ghana Month is an annual event held in March to commemorate Ghana’s Independence and rich cultural heritage.
The event, which is celebrated across the country is gradually gaining momentum as schools and organisations have been patronising the event with various activities and programmes displaying Ghana’s rich culture.
Recently, in a vibrant display of Ghana’s culture students of Antoa Senior High School in the Ashanti Region joined forces with the Centre for National Culture (CNC) to launch the 2025 Ghana Month celebration.
According to our reporter, the event was a mixture of traditional cloth demonstrations, dance lessons, poetry recitals, and proverbs competitions as students and staff donned colourful traditional attires, showcasing their rich cultural heritage with infectious enthusiasm.
Some organisation like media houses were also not left out in the celebration of Ghana Month with Newscasters dressed in their traditional attires showcasing their culture while reading the news.
Such celebrations should be encouraged as one of the excited students of Antoa SHS exclaimed, “I never knew how rich our Ghanaian culture was until today. I’m proud to be Ghanaian.” This is a testimony of how the celebration will remind students of their roots and instill in them national values.
Ghana has so many cultures which are hidden and its time to make these cultures to project our rich Ghanaian culture to the outside world.
The Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA) should collaborate with the Ghana Education Service (GES) and Ghana Dance Ensemble to make the Ghana Month more visible in schools by organising activities to educate students on Ghanaian cultural values and norms, to promote national pride and identity.
The Spectator encourages the organisers to extend the celebration to more schools. This can be done through debates, essay writing competitions, among others to share Ghana’s rich heritage. It will help to revive the cultural spirit among the youth to become ambassadors of Ghana’ culture.
GTA must also take advantage of Ghana Month and team up with the hospitality industry such as restaurants, hoteliers, Chop Bar operators, among others to organise a traditional cuisine festival like cooking and eating competitions among organisations and associations to boost tourism in Ghana. Such competitions will give people insight into the preparations of Ghanaian local foods and drinks, and promote healthy living in families. The fashion industry should also come on board to help take Ghana Month a notch higher.
In the words of the Acting Regional Director of the CNC in the Ashanti Region, Mr Peter Kofi Marfo “Let us Wear Ghana, Eat Ghana, See Ghana, Speak Ghana, Hear and Dance Ghana, together, we’ll keep our cultural flame burning bright.”
The Spectator is hopeful that by making the celebration of Ghana Month compulsory. Ghanaians will remain committed to promoting their rich culture and heritage, for future generations.
