Editorial
Let’s make Christmas meaningful, peaceful
The Christmas season is here with us again and as expected, many people will be feasting alongside other activities that may be organised to make themselves happy.
It is good to celebrate the occasion but care will have to be taken to observe all COVID-19 protocols. The protocols include social distancing, regular washing of hands, making use of alcohol-based sanitisers and wearing face masks. If all these observations are made, it will help to bring the pandemic under control.
It is equally important that activities are organised in the open and also in small groups, so that any possible infection can be reduced drastically.
There may be other people who may want to engage in drunkenness as part of the celebration. Here, we would want to caution them to be careful and also avoid drunk-driving.
Avoidance of drunk-driving will cut down accidents on our roads, so that the issue of death and needless injuries can be avoided.
The occasion calls for sober reflection on what can be done to make the birth of Christ meaningful. Here, the important message is that the birth of Christ should bring joy and happiness to every home and mankind. It should not bring about sadness or misery because of drunk-driving or some other misbehaviour in any form. The whole country must see the occasion as an opportunity to make life better for ourselves and also everyone in the country.
This is how Christmas can be made meaningful to everyone irrespective of whether the person is a Christian or not. It is important to bear this point in mind because the occasion is now celebrated not only by Christians but non-Christians as well.
Again, as a section of the population prepare themselves for church activities, they must bear in mind to take all precautionary measures to secure their homes before leaving for such church activities. This is the time unsuspecting individuals can be attacked by thieves or armed robbers at the least opportunity.
Security must be beefed up on this occasion so that people can go about their activities without any fear. Also, suspicious characters must be quickly reported to the security agencies, so that the right steps or measures can be taken to ensure law and order.
The Ghana Police Service under the leadership of the Inspector General of Police, Dr. George Akuffo Dampare, has promised to protect Ghanaians during this season. This assurance is refreshing and good but individuals must be careful and avoid taking things for granted, especially when they get into areas that are not free from thieves.
The Spectator wishes all Ghanaians Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.
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.
