Editorial
Let’s go for the jab
The Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19), which was first reported from Wuhan City in Hubei Province of China on December 31, 2019, has since created problems for many countries.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) confirmed the novel disease on January 12, 2020, and explained that it was the cause of a respiratory illness in a cluster of people in Wuhan City.
Ghana recorded its first two cases of COVID–19 on March 12, 2020. The cases were all imported, but the disease quickly spread through the country within a few weeks of the first cases. The rest of the world was not spared also as the virus spread like wildfire.
The devastating effect of COVID-19 has seen many economies become destroyed and unable to organise well to improve upon the welfare of their citizens.
For this reason, economic growth slowed down and unemployment and other economic problems threatened the lives of many people.
Apart from economic problems, other people lost their lives as a result. Ghana was no exception to this calamity.
This is why the Government of Ghana fought hard to receive vaccines to prevent the infection of more people.
Many people have gone for the vaccination but others have not.
The refusal on the part of people to go for vaccination is due to some misconceptions about the vaccination.
There are some people who believe that men who go for the vaccination will be rendered impotent. These and other misconceptions have made it difficult for many people to go in for the COVID-19 jabs.
Generally, people are expected to go for three rounds of jab. These vaccines are meant to protect people who have taken the jab, so that infection will be drastically reduced.
The Spectator is, therefore, encouraging all people in the country to go for the vaccination because the COVID-19 is still around.
Health officers in the country have been doing their best to spread the good news to everyone.
The Government of Ghana also did its best to bring the situation under control when the pandemic was at its peak.
Anyone who values their life should go for the vaccine and complete all the jabs, so that they will be protected against the disease.
If we all do this, the spread of the disease will be curtailed and people in Ghana will be more productive since they will be protected from infection.
Editorial
Decentralisation of student loan scheme way to go
Dear Editor,
It is often said that education is the key to success.
Although there are divided opinions due to various reasons, one can not undermine its importance towards the growth of any country, including Ghana.
Over the years, successive governments have implemented various policies to ensure that every child gets access to quality education at all levels by bearing some of the cost.
We can talk of the Free SHS policy and also the free tertiary education for first year students by the current government.
Also, one way the government supports tertiary students financially is through the student loan scheme where tertiary students apply for loans to support themselves financially and pay when they start working.
It is fair to say that the student loan scheme has been of immense benefit to students who apply and are lucky to have it.
That notwithstanding, a few of my friends I have interacted with have also shared their frustration about the whole application process.
According to them, some students have had to abandon the idea of applying for the loan due to the frustration they encounter while going through the whole application process.
Although I never applied for the loan during my days as a university student, I shared in their pain and frustration.
Tertiary institutions are uniquely positioned to identify ‘needy but brilliant students’ more effectively than any other state institution, and for this reason I am of the view that the student loan scheme should be decentralised, with universities managing the process through a well-constituted board.
Also, the board should be clothed with the responsibility of approving loan requests based on applicants’ demonstrated academic performance and proven financial need.
Such a localised approach, I believe, would make the funds available to the most deserving students promptly and efficiently and also address the bottlenecks associated with the whole loan application process.
Atom,
Sukura
Editorial
Clubs must be proactive to prevent violence at home grounds
Dear Editor,
The recent disturbances during a Ghana Premier League match between Nsoatreman FC and Kumasi Asante Kotoko on Sunday, February 2 in Nsoatre in the Bono region, which tragically resulted in the death of a dedicated supporter of Kotoko, have revealed the deep security issues affecting the growth of Ghana football.
The incident reveals the increasing lawlessness and violent behaviour of some football fans during and after games, the lack of proper security measures in place, and the failure to address violence in Ghanaian football.
Football is meant to unite, inspire, and entertain, not to claim lives. The loss of Francis Yaw Frimpong, aka Nana Pooley, is something that should never have happened, and justice must be served.
The Ghana Police Service has taken bold and expected steps by arresting suspects, but this should only be the beginning of a huge effort in eradicating football-related violence across the country.
Also, clubs should be held accountable for their actions and ensure proper measures to keep their venues security-ready and safe.
Strict punishments must be meted to people who involve themselves in football-related violence. Those found guilty of inciting or participating in hooliganism should face lifetime bans from venues with heavy fines and criminal prosecution.
To act as a deterrent, clubs whose supporters commit violent crimes should also be subject to severe sanctions, such as fines and point deductions. Additionally, campaigns for education and awareness must be planned in order to inform supporters who act ignorantly due to emotion and a lack of knowledge about the repercussions.
Finally, in order to stop additional harm, everyone should have access to better compensation and support for referees and players. Dissatisfaction with refereeing calls or unfavourable match conditions are the primary causes of violent events. Some of these conflicts can be avoided by making sure referees are properly protected, rewarded, and trained. Players, too, need to feel safe when stepping onto the pitch, knowing that their careers and lives are not at risk.
This tragic incident should serve as a wake-up call for all football lovers and demand concrete actions to be taken to prevent more violence and the possible collapse of our domestic league and damage to Ghana’s football reputation. The GFA, clubs, security agencies, and fans must come together to fight this cancer, which is almost taking over our game.
Enoch Ntiamoah,
Nkawkaw
