Editorial
Thumbs up to professionals holding the fort
Dear Editor,
Journalists put in lots of effort to deliver good content and stories to the public and I must say our local practitioners, over the years, continue to perform this function satisfactorily.
As the practitioners serve the public interest, a number of factors continue to undermine the crucial role they play. Notable among them is media ownership structure which, to a great extent, limits the ‘neutral role’ practitioners are expected to play when performing their duties.
A follow up to the above, is the practice where some media houses prioritise speed over facts and, in effect, churn out stories which sometimes do more harm than good.
Apart from remuneration, some practitioners are sometimes threatened or assaulted in their line of work. These and many others have, indeed, become a disincentive to the noble profession.
In spite of the setbacks, some practitioners continue to serve diligently with the hope that things would change for better. But while they keep hope alive, I wish to urge the relevant bodies to work harder to enhance the image of the profession.
While I call for sanctions on journalists who disregard codes of conduct, the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) should ensure people who assault journalists are brought to book. The association should prioritise the interest of journalists by demanding fair wages, job security and better working conditions for practitioners.
Private and public institutions should continue to deepen collaboration with established media outlets, lead initiatives that promote transparency and accountability, and help break the barrier of practitioners presenting one-sided stories.
I say thumbs up to those who continue to hold the fort, and again urge journalists and media houses to build a united front and support, speak up and defend their mandate whenever it is trampled upon.
Deborah Mawunya Aflakpui,
Student, Ghana Institute of Journalism
NCCE sensitisation in order
Dear Editor,
Last weekend your widely-read newspaper carried a story on page three in which the National Media Commission (NCCE) was cautioning young people not to fall for enticement from extremists.
I believe the call is in order and wish to commend the Commission for its effort in creating the awareness of the danger. Apart from that publication, I have also noticed other radio jingles the NCCE had sponsored on this same subject.
Violent extremism, indeed, is the new enemy and we must all be on our guard. Some security analysts have said that in the face of increasing unemployment, some young people who have “nothing to lose” may easily adopt the extremist approach when push comes to shove.
This is why I find the public education by the NCCE timely and urge them to do more as the government focuses on creating more opportunities for the youth.
Frank Kumi,
Kasoa.
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.
