Sunday, September 24, 2017
Friday, September 08, 2017
Crime in Akatsi township.
Akatsi is the district capital of the Akatsi south district. It is one of the 25 districts in the Volta region of Ghana. Akatsi is made up of different inhabitants.. Though it's largely dominated by the Ewes, there are other tribes too.
The people of Akatsi are mainly into farming but not large scales. Akatsi is a fun loving town, friendly people and have an amazing environment. Come to think of it, how can a town of such quality become a crime zone? What could have triggered such a change?
Crime in Akatsi is increasing at a very fast pace. Just within the last two years, they were serious crime that left our mouths wild open. A woman was shot at dawn when going to market and her money was taken from her. A mobile money operation just opposite the Akatsi college of Education was hurt with a machete and shot. A well known business woman at the popular "four - junction " was killed with machete and gun. There are so many examples of crime that can let you want to leave town. But is leaving the town the solution?
Now, what can cause a crime in the city? There are so many causes, but I will tackle just few. The causes include:
1. Unemployment
2. Drug Abuse
3. Poverty
4. Peer pressure.
UNEMPLOYMENT
Most youths in Akatsi are unemployed. Are they lazy? NO. They have tried many means to survive. From farming on small scales with less or no capital, no technological input and now a more risky one in "OKADA". A lot of youths have lost their life's just trying to survive with riding Okada. They put their lives at risk on daily basis just to get a daily bread. Hmmmmm. If the Okada fails, what's the next way forward for that youth?
DRUG ABUSE.
Drug abuse in Akatsi is on the rise and doesn't look like it will stop anytime soon. When you are unemployed, have a family and there is pressure on you, frustration doesn't become an option but a choice. The best wrong way most youths deal with this is use drugs.
PEER PRESSURE
Another cause of crime is peer pressure. This is mostly among "S. H. S" graduates. It's very easy for a friend to influence a friend in the same situation as him or her to commit crime. "If we are friends, it's difficult not to do what I do." IMAX
POVERTY
Every man want to eat at least three times in a day. Is a three square meal easily affordable to all in Akatsi especially the youths? NO. So they develop their own means of survival. Do the crime and don't get caught, get caught and go to jail. Government gets food for you at least once a day. But, is that the best way out?.
Get to read some ways of curbing crime in Akatsi in tomorrow's edition of this article.
The people of Akatsi are mainly into farming but not large scales. Akatsi is a fun loving town, friendly people and have an amazing environment. Come to think of it, how can a town of such quality become a crime zone? What could have triggered such a change?
Crime in Akatsi is increasing at a very fast pace. Just within the last two years, they were serious crime that left our mouths wild open. A woman was shot at dawn when going to market and her money was taken from her. A mobile money operation just opposite the Akatsi college of Education was hurt with a machete and shot. A well known business woman at the popular "four - junction " was killed with machete and gun. There are so many examples of crime that can let you want to leave town. But is leaving the town the solution?
Now, what can cause a crime in the city? There are so many causes, but I will tackle just few. The causes include:
1. Unemployment
2. Drug Abuse
3. Poverty
4. Peer pressure.
UNEMPLOYMENT
Most youths in Akatsi are unemployed. Are they lazy? NO. They have tried many means to survive. From farming on small scales with less or no capital, no technological input and now a more risky one in "OKADA". A lot of youths have lost their life's just trying to survive with riding Okada. They put their lives at risk on daily basis just to get a daily bread. Hmmmmm. If the Okada fails, what's the next way forward for that youth?
DRUG ABUSE.
Drug abuse in Akatsi is on the rise and doesn't look like it will stop anytime soon. When you are unemployed, have a family and there is pressure on you, frustration doesn't become an option but a choice. The best wrong way most youths deal with this is use drugs.
PEER PRESSURE
Another cause of crime is peer pressure. This is mostly among "S. H. S" graduates. It's very easy for a friend to influence a friend in the same situation as him or her to commit crime. "If we are friends, it's difficult not to do what I do." IMAX
POVERTY
Every man want to eat at least three times in a day. Is a three square meal easily affordable to all in Akatsi especially the youths? NO. So they develop their own means of survival. Do the crime and don't get caught, get caught and go to jail. Government gets food for you at least once a day. But, is that the best way out?.
Get to read some ways of curbing crime in Akatsi in tomorrow's edition of this article.
Wednesday, September 06, 2017
Can Ghana follow these footsteps in Education?
Education in Finland is an education system with no tuition fees and with fully subsidised meals served to full-time students. The present education system in Finland consists of daycare programmes (for babies and toddlers) and a one-year "pre-school" (or kindergarten for six-year-olds); a nine-year compulsory basic comprehensive school (starting at age seven and ending at the age of sixteen); post-compulsory secondary general academic and vocational education; higher education (University and University of applied sciences); and adult (lifelong, continuing) education. The Finnish strategy for achieving equality and excellence in education has been based on constructing a publicly funded comprehensive school system without selecting, tracking, or streaming students during their common basic education.[3] Part of the strategy has been to spread the school network so that pupils have a school near their homes whenever possible or, if this is not feasible, e.g. in rural areas, to provide free transportation to more widely dispersed schools. Inclusive special education within the classroom and instructional efforts to minimize low achievement are also typical of Nordic educational systems.[3]
After their nine-year basic education in a comprehensive school, students at the age of 16 may choose to continue their secondary education in either an academic track (lukio) or a vocational track (ammattikoulu), both of which usually take three years and give a qualification to continue to tertiary education. Tertiary education is divided into university and polytechnic (ammattikorkeakoulu, also known as "university of applied sciences") systems. Universities award licentiate- and doctoral-level degrees. Formerly, only university graduates could obtain higher (postgraduate) degrees, however, since the implementation of the Bologna process, all bachelor's degree holders can now qualify for further academic studies. There are 17 universities and 27 universities of applied sciences in the country.
The Education Index, published with the UN's Human Development Index in 2008, based on data from 2006, lists Finland as 0.993, amongst the highest in the world, tied for first with Denmark, Australia and New Zealand.[4] The Finnish Ministry of Education attributes its success to "the education system (uniform basic education for the whole age group), highly competent teachers, and the autonomy given to schools."[5]
Finland has consistently ranked high in the PISA study, which compares national educational systems internationally, although in the recent years Finland has been displaced from the very top. In the 2012 study, Finland ranked sixth in reading, twelfth in mathematics and fifth in science, while back in the 2003 study Finland was first in both science and reading and second in mathematics.[6]Finland's tertiary Education has moreover been ranked first by the World Economic Forum.[7]
While celebrated for its overall success, Finland's gender gap on the 2012 PISA reading examinations was identified in a 2015 Brookings Institution report as the largest among participating nations. The performance of 15-year-old boys on that reading examination was not significantly different from OECD averages and 0.66 standard deviations behind that of girls the same age.
Wish this is how the Educational system in Ghana works. Not just building schools with no teachers, no proper investment in Teaching and learning materials. We can learn from the Finland system of Education.
Quality Education should be our priority not a choice.
Wish this is how the Educational system in Ghana works. Not just building schools with no teachers, no proper investment in Teaching and learning materials. We can learn from the Finland system of Education.
Quality Education should be our priority not a choice.
Sunday, September 03, 2017
Arsenals vrs Chelsea. Which club is bigger?
The argument about these two London clubs is always difficult to conclude. But lets try once more. Setting the records straight.
Comparing on these grounds.
1. History
2. Records
3. Trophies ( most important)
Arsenal Football Club
HISTORY.
Arsenals FC was founded in 1886. Promoted to the first division in 1893. They were the first club from the south to be promoted into the football league. Won their first league title in the 1930s.
RECORDS.
They were the first teams game to be shown live on television on 22nd Jan 1927. Played a friendly match which was to first to be broadcasted live on radio. Spent the most seasons (85) in the top flight. Never been relegated. They went 49 games unbeaten. (A whole season undefeated.) Played the most games in the Champions League without conceding.
(10).
TROPHIES.
Won a UEFA Europa league.
Won a UEFA cup winners cup.
Won 2 league cups.
Won 15 Community shield cups.
Won 13 premier league cups.
Won 13 English F. A cup.
Total, 45.
CHELSEA FOOTBALL CLUB.
HISTORY.
This club was founded in 1904. Promoted in 1905 but has been relegated on many occasions. Won their first league title in 1960.
RECORDS
They earned the highest points in English football.(95). Conceded the fewest goals in a season.(15). Have the highest number of premier league wins in a season. (29). Longest unbeaten run at home. (86).
TROPHIES.
Won a Champions League.
Won a UEFA Europa league.
Won a UEFA super cup.
Won 2 UEFA cup winners cup.
Won 4 community shield cup.
Won 5 league cups.
Won 6 Premier league cups.
Won 7 English F.A cups.
Total. 29.
Arsenal and Chelsea have met 191 times. 74 wins for Arsenal and 62 wins for Chelsea. 55 drawn games.
FINANCE
AFC is worth around 2.5 billion pounds. CFC is worth around 1.661 billion pounds.
Now, the big question. Judge and comment which club is the biggest among the two.
I think Arsenal is bigger than Chelsea.
Comparing on these grounds.
1. History
2. Records
3. Trophies ( most important)
Arsenal Football Club
HISTORY.
Arsenals FC was founded in 1886. Promoted to the first division in 1893. They were the first club from the south to be promoted into the football league. Won their first league title in the 1930s.
RECORDS.
They were the first teams game to be shown live on television on 22nd Jan 1927. Played a friendly match which was to first to be broadcasted live on radio. Spent the most seasons (85) in the top flight. Never been relegated. They went 49 games unbeaten. (A whole season undefeated.) Played the most games in the Champions League without conceding.
TROPHIES.
Won a UEFA Europa league.
Won a UEFA cup winners cup.
Won 2 league cups.
Won 15 Community shield cups.
Won 13 premier league cups.
Won 13 English F. A cup.
Total, 45.
CHELSEA FOOTBALL CLUB.
HISTORY.
This club was founded in 1904. Promoted in 1905 but has been relegated on many occasions. Won their first league title in 1960.
RECORDS
They earned the highest points in English football.(95). Conceded the fewest goals in a season.(15). Have the highest number of premier league wins in a season. (29). Longest unbeaten run at home. (86).
TROPHIES.
Won a Champions League.
Won a UEFA Europa league.
Won a UEFA super cup.
Won 2 UEFA cup winners cup.
Won 4 community shield cup.
Won 5 league cups.
Won 6 Premier league cups.
Won 7 English F.A cups.
Total. 29.
Arsenal and Chelsea have met 191 times. 74 wins for Arsenal and 62 wins for Chelsea. 55 drawn games.
FINANCE
AFC is worth around 2.5 billion pounds. CFC is worth around 1.661 billion pounds.
Now, the big question. Judge and comment which club is the biggest among the two.
I think Arsenal is bigger than Chelsea.
Monday, August 28, 2017
Is GNAT a problem or a help to the teacher ?
Ghana national association of teachers (GNAT) is a teacher union formed in the 1930s when teachers felt the need to come together to promote and defend their interests and rights. In the early years,Gnat was really the best. But what could have triggered the formation of other unions when a vibrant association was already in existence?
1. Could it be porous decision making which was affecting teachers badly?
2. Could it be that Gnat was no longer a teacher union but a government project.? There could be hundred plus reasons why most teachers are no more interested in a union they once valued.
THE PROBLEM
The interest on loan. Most teachers contribute to Gnat monthly a minimum amount of 50gh. This minimum was not agreed on by members but they saw the change on their payslips. OK. If contributions are mine, should I pay a huge interest on a loan taken? About 24% interest on my own contribution? Why not I go to a bank and pay the same interest as I know my money isn't part?
Does Gnat really give interest on contributions of members? Why does Gnat not allow partials withdrawal like most places we contribute money to does?
GNAT is claiming to be there to defend teachers. There were so many issues (government related) of which teachers expect GNAT TO STRONGLY DISAGREE. But they don't. Arrears still unpaid to some teachers, some teachers still struggling to restore their names back on payroll after they were wrongly deleted. Hmmmmm. Is GNAT really for teachers?
What do teachers really need GNAT TO DO.
1. AT LEAST AN INTEREST ON LOAN BELOW 12%.
2.Showing seriousness to problems related to teachers.
3. Those files and stuffs they share yearly to members are not needed. Give out laptops and other stuffs that will help teacher.
If Gnat can't do these things to a contributing member, the final decision is existing. We want a teacher union capable of defending the interest of teachers not just to take our money and live luxurious life styles at our expense.
We live to teach and better our selves.
1. Could it be porous decision making which was affecting teachers badly?
2. Could it be that Gnat was no longer a teacher union but a government project.? There could be hundred plus reasons why most teachers are no more interested in a union they once valued.
THE PROBLEM
The interest on loan. Most teachers contribute to Gnat monthly a minimum amount of 50gh. This minimum was not agreed on by members but they saw the change on their payslips. OK. If contributions are mine, should I pay a huge interest on a loan taken? About 24% interest on my own contribution? Why not I go to a bank and pay the same interest as I know my money isn't part?
Does Gnat really give interest on contributions of members? Why does Gnat not allow partials withdrawal like most places we contribute money to does?
GNAT is claiming to be there to defend teachers. There were so many issues (government related) of which teachers expect GNAT TO STRONGLY DISAGREE. But they don't. Arrears still unpaid to some teachers, some teachers still struggling to restore their names back on payroll after they were wrongly deleted. Hmmmmm. Is GNAT really for teachers?
What do teachers really need GNAT TO DO.
1. AT LEAST AN INTEREST ON LOAN BELOW 12%.
2.Showing seriousness to problems related to teachers.
3. Those files and stuffs they share yearly to members are not needed. Give out laptops and other stuffs that will help teacher.
If Gnat can't do these things to a contributing member, the final decision is existing. We want a teacher union capable of defending the interest of teachers not just to take our money and live luxurious life styles at our expense.
We live to teach and better our selves.
Sunday, August 20, 2017
The problem of Education in Ghana
Education is a way of giving skills, knowledge to the individual. It also helps to develop talents of individuals.
In Ghana, education is more or less a joke. Why do I say this? In Ghana,the idea of Education is always related to politics. What makes teaching and learning effective in Europe? Europeans have planned curriculum.( not choked with unwanted subjects) They have infrastructure in place with adequate teaching and learning materials. They pay teachers well. ($200000 minimum annually)
In Ghana, teachers are even taught to improvise TLMs especially in deprive villages where most of our schools are located. Schools have to close when it's about to rain. Teachers and pupils will have to walk at least 8km to reach school. Books are not available. Teacher motivation has always been a tag of war between teacher unions and government.
These conditions don't guarantee a 100% child development.
Teacher licensing is not bad. It increases the value of teachers. But it does not solve the problem of poor Education in Ghana.
Put more into the development of teachers,provide adequate TLMs and good infrastructure. Pay teachers well and provide good supervisions.
If all that is done, the standard of education will be better than it is.
In Ghana, education is more or less a joke. Why do I say this? In Ghana,the idea of Education is always related to politics. What makes teaching and learning effective in Europe? Europeans have planned curriculum.( not choked with unwanted subjects) They have infrastructure in place with adequate teaching and learning materials. They pay teachers well. ($200000 minimum annually)
In Ghana, teachers are even taught to improvise TLMs especially in deprive villages where most of our schools are located. Schools have to close when it's about to rain. Teachers and pupils will have to walk at least 8km to reach school. Books are not available. Teacher motivation has always been a tag of war between teacher unions and government.
These conditions don't guarantee a 100% child development.
Teacher licensing is not bad. It increases the value of teachers. But it does not solve the problem of poor Education in Ghana.
Put more into the development of teachers,provide adequate TLMs and good infrastructure. Pay teachers well and provide good supervisions.
If all that is done, the standard of education will be better than it is.
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The argument about these two London clubs is always difficult to conclude. But lets try once more. Setting the records straight. Comparin... -
Ghana national association of teachers (GNAT) is a teacher union formed in the 1930s when teachers felt the need to come together to promot...
-
Education in Finland Education in Finland is an education system with no tuition fees and with fully subsidised meals served to...
