Features
Why NDC directive failed in Parliament
Mr. Fiifi Kwetey
Quite recently, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) issued a directive to its Members of Parliament (MPs) not to approve the nomination of ministers presented to parliament as a way of preventing the ruling government from carrying out its mandate of ensuring that the country achieves growth for the entire country.
The ministers were appointed to replace those who had resigned to explore their presidential ambitions for the New Patriotic Party (NPP). Some of the ministers were Hon. K.T. Hammond, who has now replaced Hon. Alan Kyerematen, and Hon. Bryan Acheampong, who has also replaced Hon. Dr. Owusu Afriyie Akoto.
DIVISIONS
The directive from the NDC was disobeyed, and this has brought tension within the party. The tension has also brought about some divisions within the NDC.
Why are all these things happening within the NDC?
Relationships, politics, religion and social aspects of Ghana’s environment make for interesting observations. Ghana is an interesting and peaceful country.
DEMOCRATIC NATION
It is a democratic nation, with the 1992 Constitution as the supreme law of the country. It has other laws, such as the various acts or legislation, rules, regulations, and others. There are what we refer to as existing laws, common laws and customary laws.
There is also a multiplicity of political parties engaged in their own activities.
Ghana is a secular state. There is one dominant religion. The leading religions are Islam, Christianity, and traditional.
HETEROGENEOUS SOCIETY
It is a country with a heterogeneous society. Ghana is a country in which numerous population groups have specific and distinct values and understandings. In a heterogeneous society many sets of shared meanings make up the society.
That notwithstanding, Ghanaians live peacefully, happily, and are lovely, but with challenges such as unemployment, social infrastructure, etc.
INTERMARRIAGE
They intermarry among themselves. For instance, a Chamba man is married to a Busanga, Kokomba or Wala woman, or an Ewe man is married to an Asante woman, or vice versa.
Ghana is both a politically and culturally oriented nation. We love and respect our cultures, traditions, and customs.
Though not from the same tribe or family, many of the citizens know themselves and are very close to one another. This is so because they are either school mates, classmates, workmates or religious colleagues, etc.
NEIGHBOURLINESS
When we take the Nima community for instance, where the majority of the inhabitants are Muslims, you will be amazed to see many Christians living in the homes of Muslims as tenants and doing everything together. It also happens in other communities. This is how Ghanaians relate to and live with one another. Muslims attend social programmes such as weddings, funerals and birthdays of their fellow Christians and vice versa.
RELATIONSHIP
In the politics of the country, many blood relatives belong to opposing political parties and live or relate well.
The current Minister of Lands and Natural Resources and a Member of Parliament for Damango, Hon. Abu Jinapor is a Cabinet Minister in the NPP government of Nana Akufo-Addo and is a direct and younger brother to the National Democratic Congress (NDC) MP for Yapei Kusawgu and the ranking member of Energy, Hon. John Jinapor. They have the same parents. Abu follows John directly, like how number two follows number one in that order.
Also, the current NDC Member of Parliament for Adentan, Hon. Mohammed Adamu Ramadan, is the direct brother of the Second Lady, Hajia Samira Bawumia, whose husband is the Vice President of the Republic. Both Samira and her husband are leading members of the NPP. The other brother of Samira is Abu Ramadan, who is also a member of the NPP after defecting from the People’s National Convention (PNC).
Other examples are the Yankahs: Kojo and Kwasi, the Osafo Maafos, Baba Kamara and Boniface Abubakar Siddiq, etc. They are either NPP or NDC. These people are together and relate happily.
We also know of some NPP members who are related to other members of the NDC. We are together, and we do everything together to promote our common interests. Our different political affiliations have never and will never divide us. This is how life must be. We all cannot support or belong to one organisation or grouping; we must scatter and bring happiness, joy, and assistance home.
Our loyalty is to our faith, followed by our united country, family, and any other consideration.
The current Speaker of our 8th Parliament, Rt. Hon. Alban Sumana Bagbin, is a founding member of the NDC but has been a political father to some people within the NPP. He was a classmate of the Interior Minister Hon. Ambrose Dery both at the faculty and at the Law School. His other classmate was Hajia Alima Mahama, a former Minister under Nana Akufo-Addo who is now an envoy to the United States.
Also find out the relationship between Hon. K.T. Hammond (NPP) and Hon. Dr. Kwabena Donkor (NDC), the late Sir John and General Mosquito of the NDC. They were very good friends until the former’s demise.
REPULSIVE FIAT
It was, therefore, disgusting when the National Democratic Congress issued a fiat asking its members in Parliament to reject the appointees of the President. It will never happen because of the numerous examples assigned. That was why the NDC directive failed.
For example, will John Jinapor ever vote against Abu’s nomination or vice versa? Relationships should be a priority before any other political consideration.
Politics should not have any place to create disaffection or division among us Ghanaians. We are all people with a common destiny.
Email address/WhatsApp number of author:
Pradmat201@gmail.com (0553318911)
By Dr. Kofi Amponsah-Bediako
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
