Educating the Ghanaian Child

By 7:30 am, Kojo Ayi Mensah, son of Naa Kailey Ameley and Emmanuel Tei Mensah popularly known and called ATM had finished his first round of hawking for the day in the locality even before school starts every day. It’s his first round because he would have to do that again after school. It’s a duty he has pledged to honor by default, as long as he remained the first child of the Mensahs. He has contributed his quota towards the raising of income to feed the family. He is almost used to it at age 12 and knows his terrain so well just like the vulture’s familiarity with the refuse dump.

He has three other siblings who did the house chores of sweeping the compound and their two bedroom apartment (chamber and hall) which also doubled as their living room and drawing water from their neighbor’s house which was just across their street where the Bensons lived. Mr. Benson was a qualified Accountant with one of the private export firms in the country and has a family of five; three children inclusive and they lived happily unlike the Mensahs.

The two families share a few things in common; they all feed just like any other human, live in the universe, precisely same neighborhood and a few others and that is where their similarities ended. They have different dispositions towards every other thing that matters; like their choice of Church, friends, social centres, schools, many other corresponding activities.

Right from the start, the children of Mr. Mensah have to help with the house chores, so they hardly have time to revise their books or even do any other academic related activities while the Bensons have ample time to relax in bed and wake up at anytime they deem appropriate as long as they are not late for their breakfast and more time after school to play video games and be tutored through extra classes. By 7:30am, they are ready to set off to school in their father’s car as he leaves for work.

Fast forwarded from their everyday routine and all the things that happened in-between time and the two families, it was now time for them to choose their preferred Schools and their respective courses they wanted to offer in their three year secondary school programmes. However, this usually does not come with much headache since they all know where and what they were due and their matching strengths. The Mensahs will choose courses like Home Economics, Visual Arts, Technical Skills and Vocational skills without hesitation while the Bensons opt for the Science biased courses, Business and General Arts for those who are reading inclined.

It’s rather the choosing of schools that poses a big problem. The Mensahs have their own categories of schools to choose from and it depends on whether they want an area school or a school that is a pride of a town. The myriad of area schools the Mensahs were disposed to are Modesco, Asteco, Tetech for Teshie technical, Mamprotech for Mamprobi Technical and Kateco for Kaneshie Technical College. These schools are usually preceded by the name of the area that makes you want to ask if there are annexes elsewhere. It reminds you of the cedi that is preceded by the name Ghana when we are the only users of the currency. These area schools are usually situated in the central business districts and have a population of about fifty and some figures short of two hundred, examples are like Harvard College, Cibusco, Snaps, Amasaman Sec Tech and Achibusco for Achimota business College.

The second category of schools the Mensahs were faced with were those that are prides of a town or a city. These schools are wider in coverage and outreach than the area schools which were usually owned by a group of individuals. The town schools are usually resourced than the former one since it served the whole area and its environs and some of these schools are Lartech for Larteh technical, Offinsco for Offinso Secondary school, Krogiss for Krobo girls, Asawasco for Asawase Sec. School, Bolga Boys and girls respectively, Nkosectech for Nkonya Sec Tech. Others are Ashiasec for Ashiaman Sec School, Sefwisco, Akatsico, and Kintamsco for Kintampo Sec. School, Agonasco for Agona sec Sch and Sogasco for Sogakope Sec Sch.

The others are Njuacoco for New Juaben Commercial College, Taviesco for Taviefe sec school, Nandomsco for Nandom Sec Sch, Odastech for Oda sec tech, Abusco for Abuakwa state college and Swesco for Swedru sec sch. Unfortunately, the one problem about most of these schools is that, no matter how good an individual is, general sections of the public think of them as not intellectually inclined even if you offered the Science biased courses, but it’s still a perception until backed by statistics.

Typical of the Bensons, they play by different rules so their choices of schools are not strictly limited by an area or a town. Their kind of schools are characterized  by high discipline and usually have a good public image in terms of academic excellence and in terms of producing high profiled leaders who takes part in the numerous decisions that are taken in the country. These schools unlike the one for the Mensahs have no convention for naming themselves. It’s either a name of an  illustrious son or a daughter of the Country or even beyond it, who has done a lot to change the course and way humanity thinks and have at least added something useful and productive to the struggle for freedom and usually are mission schools.

Some of these individuals are Opoku Ware, Yaa Asantewaa, St Monica’s, Mawuli and Prempeh. The ones that go beyond the Country are St. Thomas Aquinas, St. Augustine’s, St. Peters, St. Louis, St. Roses, St. Mary’s, and Pope John’s.

Additionally, another group exists for the Bensons to choose from and this category has no known convention and they all seem to be unique as far as their names were concerned. Some are colleges, some are academies, or perceived as a family as evidence in Adisadel College, Accra Academy and Holy Child respectively. Some of the schools in this category were represented by a religious movement or influenced by their location such as OLA girls, Mfantsiman and Mfantsipim Sec Schools, Wesley High, Ketasco, Legon Presec.

The rest were Aburi Girls, Accra Girls, Kumasi High, Tema Sec Sch, KNUST Senior High School, Ghana National College, Aggrey Memorial A.M.E Zion Sec. Sch, Ghana Senior High Sch. and many more.

Having gone through admission and school already started, it was time for results to trickle in and they all passed according to their strengths. To whom much is given, much is expected and to whom less is given none is expected but the none usually find a way to rake in some results and head for the Tertiary Vocational and Commercial Schools where they offer their RSA’s, NVTI’s, Advanced Courses and acquisition of skills in woodwork and Culinary skills. The top notch finds their way to the numerous Polytechnics in the Country while all roads lead to the Public Universities for the Bensons.

 

The Bensons come out to occupy managerial positions often overriding their Mensah contemporaries as it usually have an influence in the kind of friends they have and environments they find themselves in. 

In Politics, the Bensons occupy the top hierarchy of the ruling circle. Some become Ministers, judges, lawyers, Parliamentarians while the Mensahs are limited to the Assembly men and women and at most MCE’s, probably because they have the technical brain and can manage the day-to-day affairs.

In Business, the Bensons become the top notch CEO’s, Bankers, Engineers, Pilots, Board Members, Sales Executives, Headhunters, lobbyists, Fundraisers, Journalists, The HR people, Research fellows, Aeronautics and Sailors while most of the Mensahs become the Architects, foremen, Technical and line Managers, Restaurateurs, Retail Officers among others.

In Health, the Bensons will comfortably become General Doctors, Dentists, Surgeons, Pharmacists, Opticians and Clinical Psychologists while the Mensahs grapple at the Lab. Technicians, drug sellers, Health Assistants, Unregistered Nurses and all the Emergency medical personnel and it permeates through all our societal endeavors.

Notwithstanding social classes, you realize that, the system has stratified the Bensons and the Mensahs from the beginning until the gap widens beyond filling. It manifests in their living conditions and other things since the super-structure is weak and the vicious cycle goes on while the Bensons enjoy immensely from old boys and old girls Association.

However, we don’t have to be limited by these schools or concepts because life bores down to how you make it. You have to go beyond these boundaries and add priceless value to yourself as you keep distinguishing yourself in small tasks that come your way because the Schools and its varied advantages does not necessarily make you outstanding or happy in life.

Lastly, the Government and its developmental partners must also ensure that these schools are conducive for learning; especially the ones for the Mensahs must be equipped with basic resources that can make learning a very wonderful experience.

Doom prophecies...

I have keenly observed that, to a very considerable extent, Politics as an institution tries to shy away from religion, yet religion would always wade into muddy political waters at any given instance thereby making the church a palpable, interfering nuisance. What happened to give unto Caesar what is Caesar’s due?

Death is inevitable in our lives and cannot be avoided by any means necessary, but I guess the shift in paradigm will be very acute if we should start predicting each other’s death. Death is not even a topic many people feel comfortable discussing, let alone on a jest level. In the wake of the death of one sitting President, namely, Prof. John Evans Atta Mills and another Ex-Vice President, Mr. Aliu Mahama, A Pastor’s enthusiasm to announce his revelation of the death of the Current President, Mr. John Dramani Mahama must be condemned in no uncertain terms and treated with all the contempt it deserves.

The Head pastor of the Glorious Word Power Ministry International, Prophet Owusu-Bempah came public some two weeks ago to announce the death of the President without any probable cause. A prophet or Pastor worth its salt who is supposedly being used by God as a vessel to reveal and to redeem could have interceded on behalf of the President by directing what should be done to avert God’s decree. He can even do that without notifying the President, let alone the whole world. He has goofed by going on air to spew that garbage of a revelation because it was his only claim to fame.

 “I’ll bless those who bless Israel and will curse those who curse Israel” says the Lord and He did not admonish anyone to use his words wrongly. I’m also sure that every vessel of the Lord should know by now that, every action of theirs that contradicts the teachings of the Lord, thus misleading the flock, amounts to populism and not doing the bidding of the Lord. They have to stop manipulating the Ghanaian just because of our extreme religious belief all in the name of the Lord.

It is now easy to own and lead a church with funny names. The church has been proliferated in every nook and cranny of the nation like businesses springing up in a free zone, yet immorality is on the ascendency. One is tempted to know what their role is, in the struggle to curb down all these vices and immorality. Why are they quick to establish and lead their own congregation if money is not the motivation? Why is it that, they cannot stay in their mother Churches and go about their evangelism by winning souls for one big church? And to think that all their diverse and incongruent doctrines are sourced from the same Bible is appalling.

They are quick to refer to themselves as ‘men of God’ and also to remind us of how anointed they are and how far off we should stay away from them and I ask if we are also not ‘children of God?’ What do they think of us? Why do they take delight in removing us from the banner of God, by reminding us of their importance in the sight of the Lord? 

The mission of the Church and myriad of stories we hear about God’s kingdom is predominantly about salvation. It is about the strong and willing ones, such as the clergy leading the more gullible, weak, the unrepentant and the unbelievers into God’s glory but the former group of persons have turn against the people they are supposed to lead thus turning everything upside down. 

However, it is also worthy to note that, the media has also not been helpful in shielding these Charlatans from our dear Mothers, Fathers, Brothers and Sisters. They connive with them all in the name of business by allotting them airtime to reach out to them. You even become restless as soon as they come on air and when you dare complain, you are labeled an evil incarnate. The media is into business and needs every dime for the day-to-day administration but they also have to know that, they owe society a duty to protect them by giving them the right and timeous information which is guided by ethical considerations. 

It’s not encouraging for the media to bury their heads in the sand like the proverbial Ostriches while these pastors extort and abuse society in the name of God.

Pastors and all those who hide behind the word of God as a means to their selfish ends must be reminded that the word of God is not owned by any mortal but God alone and it applies to all those who believe in him and even those who do not and it’s high time they stop fronting on us.

Sometimes, I like to think that, these Pastors, who are supposed to have a common aim, i.e. calling and leading the people to salvation, are not united and can easily be manipulated through a carefully woven conspiracy theory which will see the heads of the churches crashing because their motivation is simple; Money!

These Pastors have too many titles and are in constant competition to outwit each other. Some of the clergy are very educated and feel the need to be on top of the hierarchy hence the self-adduced titles…

The Clergy and all these zealots who are taking advantage of the already frail and gullible Society of ours must be reined in so as to stop availing the church to all kinds of ridicule, insults and dry-cleaning from the public.

Reconciling Monday

Is everyone still here? I’m alive and want to know if everyone is? Have you grown some inches taller or has a pound of flesh been added to your body mass? Have you by dint of any misfortune or coincidentally noticed any alien among us? I’m sure nothing has changed and everything still remains relatively same. 

The only alienated part of us is MONDAY. Yes, it is here again, the supposedly first day of the week and it has already had its toll on everyone yet. Most of us care less about who made it the first day or why it is even part of the week except to gloomily bask in it, hoping time will fast forward to the next day already and I wonder why it has always been so except pay days.

I used to think that, it’s a mind over matter kind of phenomenon but events in the last few months have proven otherwise, which only goes to affirm the popular verdict that Monday sulks. Monday is in all kinds of troubles. It is serious because some folks have even vowed not to trust people who laugh or smile on a Monday. Some are also asking why Mondays can't be short? Funny, but good things happen on Mondays too.

Monday is the first day of the week and should naturally make people appear smart and well relaxed for their planned activities and other engagements, be it on-the-go or a routine, throughout the upcoming week, but most of us wake up feeling groggy, laid-back and not-poised for the day.

Pondering over why this Monday myth is getting to us, I realized that the problem started right from childhood when we were in our basics. Most schools in the 80’s and early 90’s started their Mondays with mathematics after a Dictation session. It is even worse if the next period was followed by French Language; all characterized by caning. No matter how brilliant you were, your Monday was bound to be ruined because even though you were exempted, most of the class or friends of yours were grossing over their strokes of cane or other forms of punishment that comes with these exercises.

Mathematics teachers even accounted for most of us falling sick on Mondays. Thoughts of the swift transit from having all the fun throughout the weekend only to be greeted with canes on Monday mornings were enough to actually make us fall sick and has remained so till now and these even brings to mind why Mathematics and language (Ga, French, Twi, Ewe) teachers carry themselves about as serious and strict teachers?

Some people have proposed that we scrap Mondays off even when they have no iota of information on the antecedents that led to the status quo. Others too have proposed that, we lump it together with the weekend where we could actually wind down after our vigorous social activities that takes the better part of us. Yeah, we chill from Friday night to Sunday evening and then rest on Monday and be ready to affect the world on Tuesday. That’s cool, right?

My only problem is, as insatiable as our desires can be, once we agree to extend our weekend to Monday, it will become the new Sunday and Tuesday will still be in trouble. Tuesday will still see us so tired and wrecked from the weekend activities and that will thwart our effort at making things better. 

It’s not like we have a case to start with, so let us just keep up with the status quo and rather psyche ourselves to have a better attitude towards Monday. Let’s encourage everyone to have a better mind-set about Mondays so as to desist from subjecting it to all barrages of attack. We can start slowing down on our activities by Sunday morning till evening perhaps, and we just might be ready for it. We can even choose to get some accolades for it like we do for Friday even though the two days are worlds apart with regards to the effect they have on us. It’s time we start substituting the ‘Friday’ in ‘Thank God is Friday’ cliché to Monday so as to have good and positive attitude towards Mondays.

When Doctors Strike...

So, I heard some of the representatives of the Ghana Medical association on radio, and saw some on TV granting interviews with an air of importance about their decision to truncate their strike action and go back to work. Big deal, no?

This wouldn’t be the first time neither would it be the last and they also have a standing order to lay down their tools again, if the Government does not address their problems fully, which makes you want to think if their Hippocratic oath is just a window dressing. I stand to be corrected though, but I think the GMA is the leading pressure group in Ghana followed by the various segments of the Teachers Association, be it GNAT, NAGRAT or TEWU.

Undisputedly, Doctors must be the best people to know their role in society and how they help save lives that could be lost, so why do they hold the whole nation to ransom because of money? Are they using the possible loss of lives as leverage to make more money? sika y3 mogya ampa. 

Sometimes, you are baffled by happenings around you that, our bearing as a nation is lost on you. Doctors, like any other persons must cater for themselves and their dependents but is that enough reason to make them sacrifice the trivial many on the altar of money? 

I have been around for a while and understand that strike action is the only language the government understands but I still think, laying down tools and vacating post is not the right thing to do. The job must be a tireless one and requires high mental ability at all times to man it and I also support the fact that they get any increment as justified by their petition, but these Doctors are at least being paid averagely well. These Doctors have better living conditions than most Ghanaians and shouldn’t have chosen money over our lives.

Commonsense should tell anyone around that these Doctors usually are already rich, even before venturing into the profession. Medicine and other related courses are pursued mostly by rich and brilliant kid; not the lazy and block-headed types I sat in class with, who will go partying every weekend at a sister school or at the club. These kids are the ones who are able to afford the fees and buy the numerous medicine textbooks and where the government subsidy does not provide for them, the very rich afford the fee-paying mode. These and more are some of the obvious reasons why I think these Doctors could have extended their humanitarian services while they talk with the government.

As for the government, the least said about it, the better. Almost everybody is tired with an insensitive government that will approve GH¢50,000 for rent allowance and GH¢7,200 as salary for making laws that are not enforced. A government that looks on for newly born babies to be bathed with sachet water while its citizenry went to bed almost every day in the dark is not a topic I want to delve into.

I believe that, just like any other endeavor, these people have passion for what they do and even tout the fact that you have to be ‘called’ to pursue it and I want to believe that mantra. I so believe it because I had always nursed the ambition to venture into medicine for reasons best known to me but I rescinded that decision even before the ‘calling’ time.

Just like the adage which states that “when two Elephants fight, it’s the grass that suffers”, we the masses (grass) bear all the brunt and become victims when the two proverbial Elephants namely the Ghana Medical Association and the Government of the day fights. 

Sometimes, I ask myself, “How much koraa does the government pay these Doctors?” you will realize that none of the parties involved is willing to state what the issue really is, all we hear is the pay is not good. Hmmm, makes some of us recoil and watch proceedings and this raises some more questions like….

 

“How much is the Government paying the Doctors and what is the basis?”

“How much do the Doctors want to be paid and what’s their basis/justification?

“Would the payment be enough to mitigate possible future strikes?”

“Why has the Government not granted their request yet or it’s not justified?”

“If the Government was going to do something about it anyway, why did it have to wait for the tax payer to die before it pays the Doctors?"

All these are questions the Ghanaian is dying to have answers to. Well, whatever the issue is, they should sit and trash it out because we the masses are suffering. We want quality and timeous healthcare from the very people who have vowed to save us from the clutches of death with modern medicine and we pray that, they should not use the sick as a means to their end.