Ghana Broadcasting Corporation

Rural urban migration has assumed serious national proportions in recent times. This rural urban drift has brought in its wake many human problems such as pollution, lack of accommodation, poor sanitation, street boys and girls and the sale of wayside foods on our streets, schools, in industrial areas, and lorry parks. Transportation and other household chores make it impossible for majority of the working class and school children to eat before leaving home for their various duties. Research has shown that many of those who patronize street food are people in lower average income brackets, who cannot afford to eat in restaurants. Street or wayside food business has therefore come as a 'saviour' to these groups. Some of such foods include 'waakye, banku, koose, yakayaka, bread, konkonte and agbli kaaklo' just to mention a few. The business is serving as one of the main...

Developments on the labour front is not one any Ghanaian will be enthused about. It is unfortunate the friction between organised labour and the PURC and by extension government over the hikes in utility tariffs has been allowed to deteriorate to the extent that organised labour has declared a nation-wide strike effective the 18th of next month. Before the strike workers will embark on nationwide demonstrations in protests over the increases. At a meeting early this month, organised labour issued a ten day ultimatum to the PURC and government to reduce the tariffs or face the wrath of workers. Following the ultimatum, government constituted a technical working group to among other terms of reference examine mitigating measures that would allow industry and consumers to adjust to any new level of tariff increase The Technical Committee warned that anything below 60 per cent will be dangerous for operators of the uti...

Reports have it that the killings in Nairobi at the West-gate Shopping Mall is a revenge for the situation in Somalia. Late Professor Awoonor at that time he was shot was minding his business there, giving directions on knowledge as he has been doing here in Ghana. He had earlier made major contributions in Literature and general learning, setting people in nation building through his lectures and instructions. As a former student in the then Secondary School,  I recall my first contact with the illustrious Prof.  What I learnt those days were very illuminating and instructive.  I suspect Prof was a Christian or traditionalist but that did not bother us, after all Prophet  Mohammed instructs us to seek knowledge even if it is in China. Here it was in our local school, coming from our own. And then  Prof. goes to Nairobi for similar cause-impacting knowledge and he is killed as part of the collateral damage.  Yes, the Koran allows us to revenge justifiable w...

After the ruling of the Supreme Court and its recommendations for electoral reforms, many important personalities and organizations have added their voice to the need for such reforms. The Electoral Commission on its part has extended invitation to the political parties to bring forth proposals in connection with this noble national assignment. This is in recognition that political parties are major stakeholders in elections. As a matter of fact, the acceptability or otherwise of election results, in actual sense, rest with the political parties. It is instructive to note that electoral reforms have been a continuous process since 1992. As a matter of fact, the EC has been embarking on electoral reforms after every election or major electoral activity. The commission embarks on post-election evaluation or debriefing with the sole purpose of improving its performance in future. ...

The impact of the election petition has been overwhelming for every Ghanaian. The anxiety of not knowing, dealing with contemptuous statements and the expectation of verdict generally contributed to the overwhelmingly challenging experience for the ordinary Ghanaian. In the midst of all these concerns Ghanaians again demonstrated their willingness to subject themselves to due political process. As the so called zero approached, many were those who thought the hard earned peace in Ghana would be whittled away by some magic wand. Here again, it was very refreshing to note that Ghanaians held their own and went about their daily chores with poise and grace. That is why Ghana with all her shortcomings continues to be the oasis in the dessert among the comity of nations. The people of Ghana have shown their love for their country. The children and women of Ghana are particularly grateful for the demons...

Government`s decision to remove allowances to Teacher trainees is a step in the right direction and perhaps long overdue. For years now teacher trainees have been given training allowances to see them through their course and perhaps to motivate and attract prospective school leavers to the teaching profession. With the passage of the College Of Education bill, the training colleges attained tertiary status and since it would be practically unwise to pay allowances to tertiary students’ government decided to scrap the allowances. Teacher trainees are now given the option of applying to the Students Loan Scheme for instant loans to finance their education. Invariably monies saved from the withdrawn allowances could be diverted to expanding facilities in the Colleges of Education. With their new status, the Colleges of Education might require improved infrastructure and expanded facilities such as ICT l...

The theme chosen for this year’s celebration of world ozone day, "a healthy atmosphere, the future we want", is most appropriate given current pollution of the atmosphere by chemical substances which are threats to the ozone layer. The Creator of the Universe in his infinite wisdom in creating earth placed a protective layer known as the ozone between earth and the sun to protect the earth from the ultra-violet rays sent down by the Sun. The Sun's rays are thus absorbed by the Ozone in the stratosphere and this does not reach the earth. Unfortunately through human activity vis-a-vis the use of harmful chemicals and industry, we keep destroying the ozone and the dangers in doing that are catastrophic. When the ozone is depleted, the sun rays are focused on humans, there is climate change and the air quality is polluted. Ozone depleting substances like Chlorofluorocarbon and Methyl Bromid...