Editorial
Observing the protocols to bring COVID-19 under control
All over the world, countries are struggling to overcome the COVID-19 pandemic in order to save the lives of their people even though this has not been easy.
Ghana is among the countries that have worked so hard to bring the pandemic under control.
The world has praised President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and his team for a job well done in spite of the challenges facing the country.
Unfortunately, some Ghanaians have become complacent and are no longer observing the COVID-19 protocols as was advised by the President and his team of medical professionals.
So, it came as no surprise when the Ghana Health Service announced the recording of a deadly variant, known as Delta, in the country on the second day of this month. The first Delta case was identified in December 2020, and the strain spread rapidly, soon becoming the dominant strain of the virus in both India and the United Kingdom.
In fact, researchers have said that the Delta variant, a SARS-CoV-2 mutation, is about 50 per cent more contagious than the Alpha variant, which was first identified in the United Kingdom. Alpha was already 50 per cent more contagious than the original coronavirus first identified in China in 2019.
This means that people need to rigidly adhere to the wearing of nose masks and wash their hands regularly with running water. Furthermore, people must sanitise their hands with alcohol-based sanitiser to keep them away from possible infection.
The issue of social distancing is also quite important. During funerals, wedding and naming ceremonies in various parts of the country, the observance of COVID-19 protocols must be strictly adhered to.
The same principle of observance applies to schools, churches and mosques whenever they congregate for learning or for worship. These are realities that we cannot run away from.
The COVID-19 pandemic can only be eliminated or pushed away from society if we consistently keep to the protocols.
If Ghanaians do not lower down their guard, as has been pointed out by President Akufo-Addo, more progress can be made, so the earlier we keep to the observance of the COVID-19 protocols the better it will be for all.
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.
