News
Youth should keep away from murder (Final Part)
A murderer literally smears his fingers with blood, attracts a generational curse, keeps himself or herself perpetually in chains and soils one’s reputation in the eyes of the public.
The act is so repugnant, unchristian, a demonstration of wickedness, unwillingness to forgive and complete disregard for human life.
One of the greatest temptation the youth encounter is the danger of being enticed to indulge in the perpetration of inhumane acts under the influence of drugs and without serious consideration of the matter.
This prevents them from making critical analysis of issues and acts before they jump into executing them.
False Benefits
Some of the youth have found themselves in this quagmire because of false assurances given by spiritualists to help them to get rich quick.
They are eager to acquire wealth and look good in the eyes of the public without necessarily working for it.
Some spiritualists are cunningly promising unsuspecting youth to spill blood in return for money.
The youth should keep themselves in readiness to face the challenges of life by remaining submissive to their parents at home and do same while at school.
In addition to that, they should remain glued to their books and study hard to surmount all academic hurdles.
These are the means by which the youth can extricate themselves from the clutches of
poverty, focus on the professions that they might have acquired and be content with their work.
A friend intimated that when he was at school, he took much delight in writing examinations and always made sure that he studied hard and strive to become a shining example at school.
Society’s reaction
In our towns and villages which have sizeable population to manage, people who committed murder were banished from the town and the natives ensured that they did not return to cause further nuisance.
This single act dents the reputation of the murderer’s family and the succeeding generations. The situation gives cause for people to raise eyebrows whenever they are about to deal with any member of that particular family.
The stigma usually associated with such families leaves much to be desired, though not through the machinations of members of that generation.
In modern times, the law would take its course and murderers who are apprehended would be imprisoned if found guilty.
Why should a young person fail to work hard and rather become envious of the toil and hardship of others, and finally put himself or herself in trouble?
The youth should know that the determination to work hard in life, no matter the circumstances, lies in their hands.
This is the opportune time they have to take their education seriously to enable them to live better and fulfilled lives.
By Raymond Kyekye
News
Ghana to host African Catholic Journalists from August 10
The Union Catholique Africaine de la Presse (UCAP), also known as the African Catholic Union of the Press, in collaboration with the Catholic Association of Media Practitioners-Ghana (CAMP-G), is set to host its prestigious Triennial Congress from August 10 to 17 August, 2025.
The programme would be held at the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA), Legon, Accra, Ghana.
This landmark event, the most significant gathering of Catholic journalists in Africa, will bring together media professionals, researchers, and experts in digital technology from across the continent and beyond.
The theme for the Congress is: “Balancing Technological Progress and the Preservation of Human Values in the Age of Artificial Intelligence.”
Congress Highlights
The UCAP Congress 2025 will feature discussions and deliberations on critical issues arising from or related to integral human development, particularly within the framework of Artificial Intelligence (AI).
Some of the key sub-themes to be addressed include:Corporate Social Responsibility in Managing the Impact of Artificial Intelligence on Human Values, Deploying AI in Eco-friendly Business Start-ups in Africa: Opportunities and Challenges, Technology and the Reprogramming of Social Reality, Distortion of Reality in Social and Digital Media, Ecological Education and Action Against Unsustainable Exploitation of Natural Resources, and Media and the Promotion of the Recommendations of the Synod on Synodality in Africa.
Participants will include media professionals from both ecclesiastical and lay organisations, media researchers and academics, representatives from the Vatican, government agencies, NGOs, civil society, and the digital technology sector.
Objectives of the Congress
The primary goal of this Congress is to strengthen the capacities of media professionals and educate the public on the necessity of preserving human values amid rapid technological progress. Specific objectives include; Training 100 media practitioners in Artificial Intelligence and emerging technologies, with a focus on balancing innovation and human values.
This will include promoting ethics and bioethics in technical research and technological innovations through media.
Advocating for human values such as respect for life, human dignity, charity, solidarity, and human rights and assessing the impact of technological progress to better understand the challenges, risks, and opportunities presented by AI will be part of the objectives.
UCAP is a continental organisation dedicated to promoting communication within the Catholic Church and its partners in Africa. With a mission to foster spiritual growth, collaboration, and responsible journalism, UCAP works to spread the Gospel, uphold human values, and support developmental initiatives across Africa and beyond.
UCAP is an independent, autonomous, non-political, and non-profit organisation comprising African Catholic journalists, communicators, academics, researchers, and institutions in various media fields.
Hot!
Many SOEs have been used as mere instruments for personal wealth accumulation –Pres.Mahama
President John Dramani Mahama has expressed concern over the misuse of State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs) for personal financial gain by individuals in leadership positions.
Speaking during a meeting with Chief Executives of specified entities under the State Interest and Governance Authority (SIGA) on Thursday, March 13, the President directly attributed the dire state of SOEs to their leadership, accusing chief executives, management teams, and governing boards of prioritising personal enrichment over organisational efficiency.
He pointed to bloated budgets, unjustified allowances, and unnecessary expenditures as factors draining public funds while SOEs continue to rely on government bailouts.
“Many SOEs have been used as mere instruments for personal wealth accumulation by appointees. The chief executives, management, and boards of these enterprises are responsible for this situation. Some SOEs have become perennial loss-makers, draining public funds with bloated budgets, unjustified allowances, and unnecessary expenditures while relying on government bailouts as if entitled to them. Many of these entities are at their lowest point in the entire history of the Fourth Republic,” he said.
President Mahama further noted that many SOEs have been plagued by inefficiencies, corruption, and mismanagement, leading to consistent financial losses. He cited the 2023 State Ownership Report by the State Interests and Governance Authority (SIGA), which highlighted systemic inefficiencies and wasteful expenditures within these entities.
He therefore reaffirmed his commitment to reforming under-performing SOEs and ensuring they serve national interests.
He warned that loss-making SOEs will no longer be tolerated and will either be merged, privatised, or closed.
“I will assess you based on your performance. If you do not align with the pace of the reset agenda, you may be asked to step aside. If that adds to the horror movie, so be it,” he added.
Source: Myjoyonline.com
