Features
UTAG Strike: A Student’s Perspective
University Teachers Association of Ghana, (UTAG), embarked on an industrial action on Monday, August 2, 2021, to demand better conditions of service. This action had had a heavy impact on academic activities in the various universities, bringing teaching and learning to a standstill.
There had been threats by the management of some universities to close down if the strike exceeded two weeks. In a conscious effort to resolve this issue, stakeholders had engaged UTAG at several meetings which initially proved futile.
According to UTAG president, Professor Charles Marfo, the agreement with government regarding the Single Spine Salary Structure in 2012 meant that an entry-level lecturer would receive the Ghana Cedi equivalent of $2,084 but successive governments had been paying lecturers lesser than that. He stated that they were not looking for an increment of their salaries but they only “want to be given what they believe is fair.”
Before the strike, UTAG had already hinted and threatened the government to embark on an industrial action if it did not take immediate steps to curb the worsening conditions of service of UTAG members.
True to their words, the association embarked on industrial action by withdrawing teaching, which included the conduct of examinations, marking of examination scripts, and other related matters.
But, thankfully, the strike which started on Monday, August 2, 2021, ended on August 18, 2021. Nonetheless it must be stated that amidst the fight for better conditions, students were at the receiving end of the back and forth between government and the lecturers.
As a third year student at the Ghana Institute of Journalism (GIJ), I have a year more to complete school and having been dealt with enough academic stress throughout the outbreak of Coronavirus-19 disease last year, the strike was an unfortunate ordeal students had to go through.
Last year, students stayed home for nine months, managing to study online and struggling to complete the semester. This year, we had to accumulate a 13-week lecture in six to nine weeks in order to cover the time lost.
We were recovering from “academic infirmity” until the sudden news of our lecturers embarking on a strike. This, indeed, left us contemplating on what to do with the rest of the semester.
Final year students were no exemption. It was unfortunate that in their last year of completing school, they were left stranded because lectures and the conduct of examinations had been suspended.
Per the academic calendar, we had barely two weeks to start examinations only to be met with the suspension of academic activities until the government took action.
Time was passing quickly and had the negations remained in a stalemate, we would have required more time to complete our academic work.
After what appeared to be a long silence on the part of government on the strike, steps were eventually put in place for the resumption of lectures.
Students had paid huge sums of money as ‘facility user fees’ after spending two-thirds of the semester on online classes, therefore, we could not have afforded to stay home any longer.
Professor Charles Marfo had said that the members of UTAG were “extremely unhappy about the government’s treatment, and although they were not enthused to stay home, they believed that they needed to fight for better conditions of service for themselves.”
The inconvenience of the about two-week-long strike cannot be overemphasised. I am somehow relieved that the government and UTAG came up with solutions which prompted the leadership of UTAG to call off the strike.
Education is not a break and pause affair; it is a continuous journey. And as the President rightfully said, “we should not be spectators but citizens”. Therefore, I wish to urge the government to prevent the concerns of UTAG and other labour organisations from degenerating into strikes which only create different forms of inconveniences to citizens.
Agitations on the labour front affect the nation in the long run and we must take pragmatic steps in for resolving all outstanding and future concerns of workers promptly.
By Jacklin Addobea Addo
Features
Preventing the brain’s melting point with BOS
The human brain is a complex and delicate organ, susceptible to damage from various factors, including extreme temperatures.
The brain’s melting point, also known as the temperature threshold beyond which brain tissue begins to degrade, is a critical concern for individuals seeking to maintain optimal cognitive function.
Fortunately, the Brain Operating System (BOS) offers a revolutionary solution to prevent the brain’s melting point.
Understanding the brain’s melting point
The brain’s melting point refers to the temperature threshold beyond which brain tissue begins to degrade, leading to irreversible damage.
This temperature threshold varies depending on individual factors, such as age, health, and environmental conditions. However, research suggests that the brain’s melting point is approximately 104°F (40°C) to 107°F (42°C).
The role of BOS in preventing the brain’s melting point
BOS, a cutting-edge technology, plays a crucial role in preventing the brain’s melting point. By leveraging advanced neural interfaces and artificial intelligence, BOS monitors and regulates brain temperature, ensuring that it remains within a safe range.
How BOS prevents the brain’s melting point
BOS prevents the brain’s melting point through several mechanisms:
1. Temperature regulation: BOS continuously monitors brain temperature, adjusting neural activity to maintain a stable temperature.
2. Heat dissipation: BOS enhances heat dissipation through increased blood flow and sweating.
3. Neuro protection: BOS protects neurons from heat-induced damage.
Benefits of BOS in preventing the brain’s melting point
The benefits of BOS in preventing the brain’s melting point are numerous:
1. Prevents brain damage: BOS prevents brain damage caused by excessive heat.
2. Maintains cognitive function: BOS ensures optimal cognitive function by maintaining stable brain temperature.
3. Enhances brain resilience: BOS enhances brain resilience to temperature fluctuations.
Real-World applications of BOS
BOS has various real-world applications:
1. High-performance computing: BOS enables high-performance computing by maintaining optimal brain temperature.
2. Medical applications: BOS has medical applications, such as treating heat-related illnesses.
3. Space exploration: BOS is crucial for space exploration, where extreme temperatures pose a significant risk.
Conclusion
BOS is a revolutionary technology that prevents the brain’s melting point, ensuring optimal cognitive function and overall well-being. By leveraging advanced neural interfaces and artificial intelligence, BOS monitors and regulates brain temperature, protecting against heat-related damage.
Glossary:
1. BOS: Brain Operating System.
2. Brain’s melting point: Temperature threshold beyond which brain tissue begins to degrade.
3. Neural interface: Connects human brain with digital devices.
Contact Information
virginvtech@yahoo.com
Additional resources:
1. BOS research: Explore scientific studies.
2. Neural interface resources: Discover books and articles.
3. Brain-computer interface communities: Join online forums.
Future directions
As BOS technology continues to evolve, we can expect:
1. Improved temperature regulation: Enhanced temperature regulation mechanisms.
2. Increased cognitive enhancement: Advanced cognitive enhancement capabilities.
3. Expanded applications: New applications in various fields.
By harnessing the power of BOS, individuals can safeguard their brain health and maintain optimal cognitive function, even in extreme environments.
By Robert Ekow Grimmond-Thompson
Features
Lotto wahala and Tuobodom palaver
In Sikaman lotto is not a game. It is a profession, a noble career which people aspire to. It is the highest paying profession after armed robbery and the most widespread job on this side of the Atlantic.
In places like China, lotto is a disease that has no cure. Once you are infected, no doctor on earth can cure you. May be Kofi Larteh, Ghana’s most celebrated magician, can help ease the symptoms, but no definitive cure will be forthcoming.
Coming back to Sikaman, lotto has been the financial messiah of many. That is how people look after their large families, pay school fees, marry two wives and do their own ‘monkey things.’
If you are very poor and you win a lottery, chances are that you will die before you even collect the money. You’ll die out of excitement or you’ll start day-dreaming in the streets and an articulated truck will hit you.
As such, very heavy wins are not recommended for poor people, lest they get listed too soon in the obituary columns.
The sad story is told of a heavy-duty caterpillar driver who had a very heavy lotto windfall of several millions, his first big win after several years.
CATERPILLAR
He was driving the caterpillar home when he saw his son running towards him, shouting. “All your numbers have dropped! All your numbers have dropped! He could not believe his ears.
All the four numbers he had staked had dropped and his son, who had gone to stake them for him, was himself over-excited. The poor caterpillar man just could not handle the good news. He suddenly stepped on the brakes and the caterpillar jolted him a trifle too violently, throwing him off. He landed right in front of the still moving heavy-duty machine and it crushed him flat.
I don’t think the bloke would have died if he had won a smaller amount. Sometimes too much cash is not good for the health.
Seldom, people get too confident and that can also result in a wake-keeping, like that of a man who used his lifetime savings and borrowed extra money to crack the machine with a two-sure that the compiler must compulsory drop or the world will end.
Even the shadows of the numbers or their counterparts were nowhere near the winning numbers. His shock-absorbers crumbled under the weight of the heavy disappointment. He crashed to the floor and started foaming at the mouth. He was declared dead on arrival at the nearest clinic.
WINDFALL
Recently, there was a countrywide lotto windfall, and in Kumasi it was more than a festival. Most stakers had between ¢30m and ¢40 million on two-sure that the lotto magicians had predicted at least three weeks earlier,
Kejetia chop bars were besieged with overnight millionaires, carrying huge appetites induced by Opeimu Bitters popularly called Opeimu Peters. All the meat and mudfish got sold out within an hour and procurement agents had to double up to restock.
While some were celebrating, others were weeping and gnashing teeth. The problem was that, three weeks beforehand, the two sure numbers were declared by all the lotto sorcerers, dreamers, magicians, tellers and all the self-appointed and self-promoted forecasters.
Everybody including 10-year-olds, who staked and lost. The following week, they were advised to continue staking. The faithful did continue but the faithless stopped. All of them lost. In the third week or so, a good number of confident stakers had lost faith in the two numbers. That was when the number landed.
So the windfall was for only those who had the unshakeable faith in the numbers. See what faith can do? It can move dollars. Don’t waver, so saith the holy scriptures.
The faithless indeed gnashed teeth. The winners on the other hand celebrated with a song that is as controversial as the business of lotto. It is a song played by the group called Nkasei and has something to do with a town in the Brong Ahafo Region called Tuobodom whose capital we hear is Jinijini.
I hear it is a derogatory song and the queen mother of Tuobodom got charged and breathed out electric current during her protest on air. She allegedly ended up demanding a mobile phone from Nkasei so that she could communicate with them to settle the matter peacefully, lest wahala.
Well, the song is rising up the charts and Nkasei are making the dough, but should it be at the expense of a whole townsfolk, their forebears and generations to come?
WATERPROOF
Waterproof, the famous comedian, was allegedly given hefty slaps at the Kumasi rail station by some Frafra jingoists who felt he was deriding their tribe. And Bob Okala had to run with his tail between his legs when he was confronted and realised that slaps were going to be visited on his lean face.
Let’s not use words and lyrics to cause discomfort to others.
This article was first published on Saturday July 9, 2005
