Feel free to enjoy my thoughts on issues making the rounds. Some serious, others funny. I love to be straightforward, calling a spade a spade.
Thursday, 1 February 2018
GA EAST MUNICIPAL DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION MEETS PRIVATE SCHOOL HEADS
The Ga East Municipal Director of Education, Mrs Bernice Ofori, has lauded the efforts of the Proprietresses and head teachers of the private schools in the municipality for their unrivalled roles they are playing in complementing government effort to provide quality education for all Ghanaian children.
She noted that without them, government couldn't have absorbed the teeming number of children into the public schools
This observation was made known during her maiden official meeting with the proprietresses and head teachers since her appointment last year at the auditorium of the Kwabenya Secondary Technical School on Wednesday, January 24, 2018.
While explaining her 2018/2019 vision of ensuring that schools under her jurisdiction provide safe conditions for the children, Mrs Ofori called on the participants to work towards achieving academic excellence for all their children. She also noted that while doing this the schools should also ensure the moral and physical safety of the children.
According to her, it is important for schools to teach the children taking their level into consideration. "Teach at the right level of the child," she advised.
She also addressed issues about the safety of the school facilities. She advised that, "The infrastructure should look strong, firm and spacious, well-ventilated with good lighting system."
The director lauded the hard work done by teachers. She, however, noted that it is important for the schools to set higher academic standards and keep achieving excellence. "Academically, we should keep the standard of our schools always rising. It should never fall," she said.
In keeping on with the success stories of the school, Mrs Ofori admonished that they must eschew the feeling of complacency in their last achievements and work harder to achieve much greater heights.
She observed that some parents move their children to other schools when they feel their children are not getting the right form of education from the school. Therefore, she advised that all schools should ensure that their children are getting right form of education.
She also made a strong appeal that to ensure the moral safety of the children, corporal punishments should be avoided as much as possible. The corporal punishments, according to her, "demoralises the children". She also noted that some children have stopped schooling because of the use of canes in our schools.
She noted that in times past the public schools were the ones noted for administering corporal punishments. However, in recent times, the narrative has changed and the private schools are the culprits of the corporal punishments.
Mrs Ofori urged the heads of schools to use the alternative punishment measures to correct students and pupils who fall foul of the school rules.
Mrs Ofori introduced all the new school's and subject coordinators in the municipal and all the six circuit supervisors to the proprietresses and head teachers in attendance.
There was an open forum where participants asked various questions and made laudable suggestions to which the education director responded appropriately.
NPP NATIONAL CHAIRMAN HOPEFUL DEEPENS CALLS FOR PUNCTUALITY
A National Chairman
aspirant of the New Patriotic Party, Fred Amankwah-Sarfo, has called on the
youth of Ghana to be punctual at all times. This according to him will propel
them to achieve greater heights in all their chosen endeavours.
The Doctoral Reseacher at the Department of Operations and Management Information Systems of the University of Ghana Business School made this call at the grand launch of Vibrant Youth of Africa (VYOA) on Friday, January 26, 2018 at the Osu Ebenezer Church Hall.
He noted that punctuality is a key ingredient in success, therefore urging the youth of Ghana to embrace it in the pursuit of their ambitions. "You must respect time, to succeed. If you don't respect time, then forget about success," he admonished.
Mr Amankwah-Sarfo was of the view that the youth need tenacity of purpose as well since they have all the resources at their disposal to excel. "You need tenacity of purpose. You have all that it takes to become whoever you want to become," the NPP Chairman hopeful charged.
Mr Amankwah-Sarfo who is also the president of the African Doctoral Researchers encouraged the youth to think about issues well before they begin actualising them. This according to him will make them avoid pitfalls that have engulfed many entrepreneurs. "Thinking is free. Avoid making expensive mistakes," he recommended.
He further called on Ghanaian business men and women and the general public to work towards ensuring that our activities are always eco-friendly. This according to him is the way to go in the 21st century so that we can protect the environment for posterity. "We must always make our businesses eco-friendly. We must protect the land and the environment for the next generation. Let's keep it safe and hand it over to the next generation as we were given by our ancestors," he advised.
On his part, the Chief Executive Officer of VYOA, Benjamin Bosompem Oduro in a speech revealed that the organisation is aimed at reducing poverty and unearthing talents. He also used the opportunity to outdoor the events chairman, Fred Amankwah-Sarfo, and Fadi Samih Dambousi (author of 59 Years To Nowhere) as the two patrons of the group and also introduced all the team members of the organisation.
The team at the latter part of the programme launched its flagship business enterprise, Kenkey Republic, which is due to commence full operations in March, 2018. Mr Bosompem Oduro said that when the enterprise starts, the general public will get to make orders for their pack of hot Kenkey or banku with fried fish, grilled tilapia or chicken with fresh juice and bottled water for lunch. The orders will be placed mainly via the organisation's social media handles and through voice calls.
The Doctoral Reseacher at the Department of Operations and Management Information Systems of the University of Ghana Business School made this call at the grand launch of Vibrant Youth of Africa (VYOA) on Friday, January 26, 2018 at the Osu Ebenezer Church Hall.
He noted that punctuality is a key ingredient in success, therefore urging the youth of Ghana to embrace it in the pursuit of their ambitions. "You must respect time, to succeed. If you don't respect time, then forget about success," he admonished.
Mr Amankwah-Sarfo was of the view that the youth need tenacity of purpose as well since they have all the resources at their disposal to excel. "You need tenacity of purpose. You have all that it takes to become whoever you want to become," the NPP Chairman hopeful charged.
Mr Amankwah-Sarfo who is also the president of the African Doctoral Researchers encouraged the youth to think about issues well before they begin actualising them. This according to him will make them avoid pitfalls that have engulfed many entrepreneurs. "Thinking is free. Avoid making expensive mistakes," he recommended.
He further called on Ghanaian business men and women and the general public to work towards ensuring that our activities are always eco-friendly. This according to him is the way to go in the 21st century so that we can protect the environment for posterity. "We must always make our businesses eco-friendly. We must protect the land and the environment for the next generation. Let's keep it safe and hand it over to the next generation as we were given by our ancestors," he advised.
On his part, the Chief Executive Officer of VYOA, Benjamin Bosompem Oduro in a speech revealed that the organisation is aimed at reducing poverty and unearthing talents. He also used the opportunity to outdoor the events chairman, Fred Amankwah-Sarfo, and Fadi Samih Dambousi (author of 59 Years To Nowhere) as the two patrons of the group and also introduced all the team members of the organisation.
The team at the latter part of the programme launched its flagship business enterprise, Kenkey Republic, which is due to commence full operations in March, 2018. Mr Bosompem Oduro said that when the enterprise starts, the general public will get to make orders for their pack of hot Kenkey or banku with fried fish, grilled tilapia or chicken with fresh juice and bottled water for lunch. The orders will be placed mainly via the organisation's social media handles and through voice calls.
Saturday, 11 March 2017
HOMELESS HOME
I
Started lovely, began smoothly
All the loving accolades we shower
Relishing every bit knowing no bitter
Corking the ears to any dissenting view
Always whispering, “I love you”
Moved humbly
The wedding bells from the corners chime
Then exchanges of rings the affection crown
Clothed in such alluring and radiant gown
The clergy's hand on the couple lay
On such colourful, effulgent day
Then comes the all-time favourite, “You may kiss the bride - Mwah”
And to this, every attendant excitingly exclaims
To live happily ever after
The brides flaunt their rings
Then relive for the most part the joy that brings
The home is built afterward
The home to be an oasis of peace, expects the Lord
Promising serenity and tranquility
Providing warmth to the cold
Giving comfort to the young and the old
That welcoming ambience into which ourselves fold
Is that not enjoyable,
Refreshing and soothing?
Then what’s so eating the home, I ask
No more shielding like porridge in flask
Crippling the home
Blindfolding and leading it to destruction
Stagnating it in the doldrums of annihilation
Our homes
Yes, that’s our home today
Started lovely
Moved humbly
And so thought a house is a home
Until many crumbled like burning foam
Homeless in a home
Unbelievable, yet real
The home’s lost its ‘home-ness’
Incomprehensible, yet so real
I still thought a house is a home
Till many disintegrated like burning foam
The problems fester like cancers
And almost without answers
I still thought a house is a home
Until many disintegrated like burning foam
II
When children become burdensome, troublesome,
Who’s to blame?
Our actions and inactions so contribute
Spending indiscriminately every dime
Every time
On the unplanned, useless
Even reckless
Creating continuous mess
When children become stubborn, rotten,
Who’s to blame?
We consciously and unintentionally shirk our responsibilities
Affecting negatively their sensibilities
Becoming social liabilities
Then they dread less the forbidden
Such are life’s realities
When children become truant, violent
Who’s to blame?
We pamper and flatter even in wrong
Because we claim they are young
Oblivious they are inching into the dung
Fading away to the point of no return
When children become recalcitrant, rebellious,
Who’s to blame?
Daddy sets off dawn and returns dusk
Only to fill his stomach with a heavy dose
And straight to bed he goes
Mama, dines all day at the salon
Dotted with all the gossips in and gone
So when children become social misfits,
Who’s to blame?
When daddy’s always drunk as a skunk
And the gutter becomes that Latex foam mattress
Then alcohol becomes the money sucker
Hand to mouth, an afterthought
School fees payment now the least to consider
Indeed, I thought a house is a home
Until I beheld many disintegrated like burning foam
III
Again, I thought a house is a home
Until I saw many disintegrate like burning foam
A home must be a haven
It’s what I believe in
But not just given on a mere silver platter
Let’s strive to right the wrong
Admittedly, the road seemingly very long
Perseverance and determination, the keys
For the house becomes home
When gradually built like the city of Rome
Considering every situation a correctional moment
But for us parents, a word of advice
Let’s keep our relationship healthy and clean
Avoiding quarrels with the flimsiest excuses
Spending more on the needs, not wants
So the home indeed must comfort
Must lull and shelter
Must give the cold, warmth
And the despair and depressed, hope
Therefore, together our hands on deck
For the house becomes home
When gradually built like the city of Rome
To my friends, some nuggets of wisdom;
Let’s obey our parents unconditionally,
Then enjoyment of longer life our portion
And as they shower their love, so shall they rain discipline
Noting, no discipline seems for the present, joyous,
But painful, yet afterward,
Yielding the peaceable fruit of righteousness
And wisdom by those trained by it.
Still, the house becomes home
When gradually built like the city of Rome
What’s it then we get when we shirk our responsibilities?
Regrettable situations stare us in the face
Let’s work tirelessly to avoid them
Make the house a home
And keep the home’s ‘home-ness’
Therefore, together our hands on deck
For the house becomes home
When gradually built like the city of Rome
...By Joseph Appah
(English Teacher & Acting Headmaster of Start Rite School, Dome)
Facebook: Joseph Onwona Appah
Twitter: @MC_SirJoe
Instagram: @mc_sirjoe
Whatsapp: +233 242 673 002
Email: pcmc.josephappah@gmail.com
Started lovely, began smoothly
All the loving accolades we shower
Relishing every bit knowing no bitter
Corking the ears to any dissenting view
Always whispering, “I love you”
Moved humbly
The wedding bells from the corners chime
Then exchanges of rings the affection crown
Clothed in such alluring and radiant gown
The clergy's hand on the couple lay
On such colourful, effulgent day
Then comes the all-time favourite, “You may kiss the bride - Mwah”
And to this, every attendant excitingly exclaims
To live happily ever after
The brides flaunt their rings
Then relive for the most part the joy that brings
The home is built afterward
The home to be an oasis of peace, expects the Lord
Promising serenity and tranquility
Providing warmth to the cold
Giving comfort to the young and the old
That welcoming ambience into which ourselves fold
Is that not enjoyable,
Refreshing and soothing?
Then what’s so eating the home, I ask
No more shielding like porridge in flask
Crippling the home
Blindfolding and leading it to destruction
Stagnating it in the doldrums of annihilation
Our homes
Yes, that’s our home today
Started lovely
Moved humbly
And so thought a house is a home
Until many crumbled like burning foam
Homeless in a home
Unbelievable, yet real
The home’s lost its ‘home-ness’
Incomprehensible, yet so real
I still thought a house is a home
Till many disintegrated like burning foam
The problems fester like cancers
And almost without answers
I still thought a house is a home
Until many disintegrated like burning foam
II
When children become burdensome, troublesome,
Who’s to blame?
Our actions and inactions so contribute
Spending indiscriminately every dime
Every time
On the unplanned, useless
Even reckless
Creating continuous mess
When children become stubborn, rotten,
Who’s to blame?
We consciously and unintentionally shirk our responsibilities
Affecting negatively their sensibilities
Becoming social liabilities
Then they dread less the forbidden
Such are life’s realities
When children become truant, violent
Who’s to blame?
We pamper and flatter even in wrong
Because we claim they are young
Oblivious they are inching into the dung
Fading away to the point of no return
When children become recalcitrant, rebellious,
Who’s to blame?
Daddy sets off dawn and returns dusk
Only to fill his stomach with a heavy dose
And straight to bed he goes
Mama, dines all day at the salon
Dotted with all the gossips in and gone
So when children become social misfits,
Who’s to blame?
When daddy’s always drunk as a skunk
And the gutter becomes that Latex foam mattress
Then alcohol becomes the money sucker
Hand to mouth, an afterthought
School fees payment now the least to consider
Indeed, I thought a house is a home
Until I beheld many disintegrated like burning foam
III
Again, I thought a house is a home
Until I saw many disintegrate like burning foam
A home must be a haven
It’s what I believe in
But not just given on a mere silver platter
Let’s strive to right the wrong
Admittedly, the road seemingly very long
Perseverance and determination, the keys
For the house becomes home
When gradually built like the city of Rome
Considering every situation a correctional moment
But for us parents, a word of advice
Let’s keep our relationship healthy and clean
Avoiding quarrels with the flimsiest excuses
Spending more on the needs, not wants
So the home indeed must comfort
Must lull and shelter
Must give the cold, warmth
And the despair and depressed, hope
Therefore, together our hands on deck
For the house becomes home
When gradually built like the city of Rome
To my friends, some nuggets of wisdom;
Let’s obey our parents unconditionally,
Then enjoyment of longer life our portion
And as they shower their love, so shall they rain discipline
Noting, no discipline seems for the present, joyous,
But painful, yet afterward,
Yielding the peaceable fruit of righteousness
And wisdom by those trained by it.
Still, the house becomes home
When gradually built like the city of Rome
What’s it then we get when we shirk our responsibilities?
Regrettable situations stare us in the face
Let’s work tirelessly to avoid them
Make the house a home
And keep the home’s ‘home-ness’
Therefore, together our hands on deck
For the house becomes home
When gradually built like the city of Rome
...By Joseph Appah
(English Teacher & Acting Headmaster of Start Rite School, Dome)
Facebook: Joseph Onwona Appah
Twitter: @MC_SirJoe
Instagram: @mc_sirjoe
Whatsapp: +233 242 673 002
Email: pcmc.josephappah@gmail.com
Friday, 21 October 2016
DEEP DOWN WITHIN...
Deep down within me
Is a deep desire to see prosperity of humanity
Deep down within me
Is an unquestionable passion to see a world of success
Deep down within me
Is an inordinate affection for the afflicted and vulnerable
Deep down within me
Is a burning desire to make knowledge spread across the globe
Deep down within me
Is an unquestionable passion to see a world of success
Deep down within me
Is an inordinate affection for the afflicted and vulnerable
Deep down within me
Is a burning desire to make knowledge spread across the globe
Deep down within me
Is a voice of conscience signing a moral covenant with my physical self
Deep down within me
Is a plenitude of gratitude for my multitude of well-wishers
Deep down within me
Is an unqualified apology to all I've wrongly wronged
Deep down within me
Is a song to soar the depressed and distressed
Is a voice of conscience signing a moral covenant with my physical self
Deep down within me
Is a plenitude of gratitude for my multitude of well-wishers
Deep down within me
Is an unqualified apology to all I've wrongly wronged
Deep down within me
Is a song to soar the depressed and distressed
Deep down within me
Is an agenda to share the truth with the youth
Deep down within me
Is an unfettered love for nature
Deep down within me
Is an unflinching zeal to decry global crime
Deep down with me
Is an uncompromising instinct to heed conscience
Is an agenda to share the truth with the youth
Deep down within me
Is an unfettered love for nature
Deep down within me
Is an unflinching zeal to decry global crime
Deep down with me
Is an uncompromising instinct to heed conscience
Above all, deep down within me
Is a voracious appetite for the word of my maker, creator
So deep down within me
Is an unconditional love for Otwedeampon Nyankopon and onua Nipa Dasani
Is a voracious appetite for the word of my maker, creator
So deep down within me
Is an unconditional love for Otwedeampon Nyankopon and onua Nipa Dasani
Now, your turn... What's deep down within you?
- MC Sir Joe ©October, 2016
Follow me on Social Media...
Facebook: Joseph Onwona Appah
Twitter: @MC_SirJoe
Instagram: @mc_sirjoe
Whatsapp: +233 242 673 002
Email: pcmc.josephappah@gmail.com
Twitter: @MC_SirJoe
Instagram: @mc_sirjoe
Whatsapp: +233 242 673 002
Email: pcmc.josephappah@gmail.com
Monday, 4 July 2016
OMNIBUS: 10 PC&SMC's SECRETS (GREAT MC TIPS)
You may have missed some or all the 10 Professional Corporate & Social Master of Ceremonies (PC&SMC)'s Secrets (otherwise known as Great MC Tips) as serialised over the past few weeks. I generously bring you the omnibus of the 10 tips.
1⃣I take to heart💚 Dale Carnegie's 👨sage advice, "... a person’s name is to that person the sweetest and most important sound🎶 in any language." In view of this, I have devised strategies that help me to remember the names of my guests👩👴 and pronounce them appropriately much to their surprise...😆
2⃣ Getting to the venue🏫 not less than an hour before the event starts is not optional. This helps me to familiarise myself with the venue and get to know the other staff of the event.
3⃣ I pledge to entertain my guests or better still let them enjoy the event. However, I do not strive to be funny😷 since I'm not a comedian🎭. I only mirror my guests' feelings😆😅.
4⃣ I give the audience further reasons to be appreciative👏✌️ of the message📜 delivered by a speaker. This I do by listening attentively👂 and jotting down salient points✏️📋 which I emphasise after the speech. This strategy does not only remind the audience of what was said but also gives the speaker reason to believe that someone listened to her or him.
5⃣I forge instant cordial relationship👫 with all the persons who have roles to play at the event. Most importantly, I get to know the DJ by name and as I mention🎤 it and praise him as well, he feels flattered to give off his best.
6⃣ Since most of the events I emcee use music🎼🎶, I do not only listen 🔊 and make a selection earlier but also keep these selection on my pendrive in case the DJ👲 does not have them.
7⃣ To stay relevant, I employ this time-tested three-in-one📚 approach: Continuous Researching📰, Continuous Reading📖 and Continuous Rehearsing...
8⃣ I avoid using the speakers' biography as their introduction during that important event.
How creatively effective it is when I fashion out the introduction answering these four questions taught by Ron Tacchi & Winston Marsh:
1. Why this speaker?👴
2. Why this subject?📜
3. Why this audience?👪👬
4. Why now?🕧
9⃣No two individuals are the same. So every MC must be unique. One of my uniqueness is how in most cases I employ my unique writing ability✏️📋.
Check this out...
http://josephappah.blogspot.com/2015/05/joseph-appah-hosts-cprs-maiden-edition.html?m=1
🔟In my line of duty, I know who I am🚶. I am not just an announcer nor just a compere (talking head)🎤. I am the Master of Ceremonies, so I take charge of the whole event!! (Exhibiting my little 'Do you know who I am' attitude😜😄👮)
Thank you for reading. I hope it will be helpful if you get this rare opportunity of being the MC for a friend's event.
Still, MC Sir Joe, the PC&SMC u can trust... For event booking: +233 242 673 002
Twitter: MC_SirJoe
Instagram: mc_sirjoe
#ThePCSMC #Fireworks
1⃣I take to heart💚 Dale Carnegie's 👨sage advice, "... a person’s name is to that person the sweetest and most important sound🎶 in any language." In view of this, I have devised strategies that help me to remember the names of my guests👩👴 and pronounce them appropriately much to their surprise...😆
2⃣ Getting to the venue🏫 not less than an hour before the event starts is not optional. This helps me to familiarise myself with the venue and get to know the other staff of the event.
3⃣ I pledge to entertain my guests or better still let them enjoy the event. However, I do not strive to be funny😷 since I'm not a comedian🎭. I only mirror my guests' feelings😆😅.
4⃣ I give the audience further reasons to be appreciative👏✌️ of the message📜 delivered by a speaker. This I do by listening attentively👂 and jotting down salient points✏️📋 which I emphasise after the speech. This strategy does not only remind the audience of what was said but also gives the speaker reason to believe that someone listened to her or him.
5⃣I forge instant cordial relationship👫 with all the persons who have roles to play at the event. Most importantly, I get to know the DJ by name and as I mention🎤 it and praise him as well, he feels flattered to give off his best.
6⃣ Since most of the events I emcee use music🎼🎶, I do not only listen 🔊 and make a selection earlier but also keep these selection on my pendrive in case the DJ👲 does not have them.
7⃣ To stay relevant, I employ this time-tested three-in-one📚 approach: Continuous Researching📰, Continuous Reading📖 and Continuous Rehearsing...
8⃣ I avoid using the speakers' biography as their introduction during that important event.
How creatively effective it is when I fashion out the introduction answering these four questions taught by Ron Tacchi & Winston Marsh:
1. Why this speaker?👴
2. Why this subject?📜
3. Why this audience?👪👬
4. Why now?🕧
9⃣No two individuals are the same. So every MC must be unique. One of my uniqueness is how in most cases I employ my unique writing ability✏️📋.
Check this out...
http://josephappah.blogspot.com/2015/05/joseph-appah-hosts-cprs-maiden-edition.html?m=1
🔟In my line of duty, I know who I am🚶. I am not just an announcer nor just a compere (talking head)🎤. I am the Master of Ceremonies, so I take charge of the whole event!! (Exhibiting my little 'Do you know who I am' attitude😜😄👮)
Thank you for reading. I hope it will be helpful if you get this rare opportunity of being the MC for a friend's event.
Still, MC Sir Joe, the PC&SMC u can trust... For event booking: +233 242 673 002
Twitter: MC_SirJoe
Instagram: mc_sirjoe
#ThePCSMC #Fireworks
Friday, 1 July 2016
THE SWITZERLAND EXPERIENCE: Passport Renewal Wahala - Part 2
Unperturbed about the earlier experience, I mustered the courage for the second phase of the passport renewal. This was when I had to submit the application documents at the Tema station passport office. As usual, early morning on Friday I was there. The long queue was always the same🚶🚶🚶🚶.
But now I began to see many familiar faces; ones which I saw about 2 weeks before the day. These were the 'Goro boys' or 'Connection men' 👬 I mentioned in part one. They had devised many ways of making money at the place from unsuspecting passport applicants🙆.
Quite seriously funny the modus operandi of one of them as I really observed👮. He gets there very early (Well, I don't know if he sleeps there😴). He is first in the queue and after after being followed by about five people, he excuses himself making the second person aware. He now goes to hide somewhere and watches as more people join. When about 3 or 5 more join, he comes quietly to stand behind and the last person, who never knew that he was already in the queue.
In some few minutes, when about two more people join behind him, he whispers something into the ear of the one in front of him, and moves away to his hiding place. He process continues. Now he gets about four or five different positions in the queue. I can feel surprise already welling up in you and the obvious question is why will he do that. Is the answer not obvious? Cash💵.
Now, this is the point of time when selling is done. Now, when the queue is very long, he goes to the ones who are really at the bottom of it and sells his positions. Of course, the price will vary by position; the first position is certainly not the same as the middle one. Unfortunately, I didn't need one. I didn't want one. So I don't know the price.
Tell you the truth, it's only real observers who could see what was going on.
There were those who were parading the place under the guise of assisting applicants with their application. For those applicants who did not have their forms endorsed had among the connection men those who could endorse their forms for them. But then I thought, 'How could someone buy the form and leave such important part blank only for someone he or she did not know to endorse?'.
All these and more were ongoing but I needed to be calm and focus on my mission. Nothing must cross my way in the application. At all cost my application must be successful, I thought.
At 6:30 🕡 the gate was opened after a quick look at our documents by some passport officials. We entered and made our way to the place dedicated for the forms vetting and submission. Gradually, it was my turn and everything went on smoothly. The form with the other documents was collected and straight I left the place with my transaction number and a promise of getting my new passport exactly a month later, that is March 18. Any Wahala? No Wahala!🍀
Certainly, the passport wasn't the only document needed. I started working on the Letter of Introduction, the work leave letter and spousal consent letter among others.
Early Wednesday morning, (March 18) was the day🌻. As usual, early arrival was a must. I had my Transaction Number for the collection with me. No Ghanaman time. The usual long queue was on but this time round for the collection.
I cannot be too sure here, but I think just about a quarter of those who were ahead of me had their passports ready😭. Obviously, that was my cause for alarm. Some of them flared up 😵😫 in the process and began counting the numerous times they had been at the office for collection of their passports but to no avail.
Then it was my turn. She took my transaction number and pressed a few keys on her keyboard💻. She looked at me and the answer was obvious; NEGATIVE! Chai!😂... Her quick advice was for me to check on it in a month's time. Really? I didn't have a month to wait for the passport.
I had a sponsor who was working with time 🕚 and any delay meant a cancellation of the entire plan❌. Of course, cancellation. And you read that right.
Now, leaving the passport office, my thoughts were just to do something to get that new passport. And it MUST be fast🏃💨!
How I went about it and the frustrations too that came along with it, Part 3 will say it all...
But now I began to see many familiar faces; ones which I saw about 2 weeks before the day. These were the 'Goro boys' or 'Connection men' 👬 I mentioned in part one. They had devised many ways of making money at the place from unsuspecting passport applicants🙆.
Quite seriously funny the modus operandi of one of them as I really observed👮. He gets there very early (Well, I don't know if he sleeps there😴). He is first in the queue and after after being followed by about five people, he excuses himself making the second person aware. He now goes to hide somewhere and watches as more people join. When about 3 or 5 more join, he comes quietly to stand behind and the last person, who never knew that he was already in the queue.
In some few minutes, when about two more people join behind him, he whispers something into the ear of the one in front of him, and moves away to his hiding place. He process continues. Now he gets about four or five different positions in the queue. I can feel surprise already welling up in you and the obvious question is why will he do that. Is the answer not obvious? Cash💵.
Now, this is the point of time when selling is done. Now, when the queue is very long, he goes to the ones who are really at the bottom of it and sells his positions. Of course, the price will vary by position; the first position is certainly not the same as the middle one. Unfortunately, I didn't need one. I didn't want one. So I don't know the price.
Tell you the truth, it's only real observers who could see what was going on.
There were those who were parading the place under the guise of assisting applicants with their application. For those applicants who did not have their forms endorsed had among the connection men those who could endorse their forms for them. But then I thought, 'How could someone buy the form and leave such important part blank only for someone he or she did not know to endorse?'.
All these and more were ongoing but I needed to be calm and focus on my mission. Nothing must cross my way in the application. At all cost my application must be successful, I thought.
At 6:30 🕡 the gate was opened after a quick look at our documents by some passport officials. We entered and made our way to the place dedicated for the forms vetting and submission. Gradually, it was my turn and everything went on smoothly. The form with the other documents was collected and straight I left the place with my transaction number and a promise of getting my new passport exactly a month later, that is March 18. Any Wahala? No Wahala!🍀
Certainly, the passport wasn't the only document needed. I started working on the Letter of Introduction, the work leave letter and spousal consent letter among others.
Early Wednesday morning, (March 18) was the day🌻. As usual, early arrival was a must. I had my Transaction Number for the collection with me. No Ghanaman time. The usual long queue was on but this time round for the collection.
I cannot be too sure here, but I think just about a quarter of those who were ahead of me had their passports ready😭. Obviously, that was my cause for alarm. Some of them flared up 😵😫 in the process and began counting the numerous times they had been at the office for collection of their passports but to no avail.
Then it was my turn. She took my transaction number and pressed a few keys on her keyboard💻. She looked at me and the answer was obvious; NEGATIVE! Chai!😂... Her quick advice was for me to check on it in a month's time. Really? I didn't have a month to wait for the passport.
I had a sponsor who was working with time 🕚 and any delay meant a cancellation of the entire plan❌. Of course, cancellation. And you read that right.
Now, leaving the passport office, my thoughts were just to do something to get that new passport. And it MUST be fast🏃💨!
How I went about it and the frustrations too that came along with it, Part 3 will say it all...
Thursday, 23 June 2016
THE SWITZERLAND EXPERIENCE: Passport Renewal Wahala - Part 1
About a year ago, I was just left with a month to embark on that journey of a lifetime. After a long rest after returning, I bring you excerpts of the experience...
I vividly remember the day. It was Wednesday, January 21, 2015 at the University of Ghana in front of the Balme Library🏦. We sat on the wall and my inviter (my Swiss mum) discussed with me the invitation to visit Switzerland. Throughout the one week remaining her stay she demonstrated her commitment to her invitation in diverse ways (cash 💰inclusive). Please don't ask me how much it was. I beg, I chop am dadaaaada.
Unlike those who will do anything just to travel abroad in search of greener pastures, I was just a tourist🚶. However, I had my fair share of the numerous frustrations 😪 that one has to go through in order to travel✈️.
So in February I started to renew my passport. Make no mistake about it, my passport was not expired. Authentic information from the Swiss Embassy in Ghana states clearly that the expiration of ones passport must not be less than three months after the expiration of the visit duration. I was to visit in July and return on August 19 and my passport was due to expire in September (just a month after I'm due to return). So obviously the renewal was very essential and a must.
I bought a new form and filled just like the process of acquiring a new one. I was not perturbed at all since I knew that that was the regulation. After filling the form and with our school headmaster's endorsement, I went to the passport office on Friday, January 30, 2015 very early in the morning. The number of people who were there by 4:30 when I got there and the many 'Goro Boys' or better still, 'connection men' who were parading the frontiers of the passport office indeed is a subject for another discussion.
At 6:30, some officials came round to check our forms and when satisfied to some extent gave out a number to the applicant. When it got to my turn, the officer realised that I was 'just' renewing my passport and so asked me to go to the Passport Office at Ridge first. According to him, that was where to start such application from since all the previous data are stored. So what I was in effect going to do was what they referred to as 'Release to Scan'. Indeed, I was just angry inside and I tried not to show it since I thought that such a process should have been known somewhere either on a notice board or elsewhere just so that people wouldn't have to come and waste time just like I did. But as I intimated, I swallowed it and made my way to Ridge. Little did I know that that was the genesis of my woes.
I arrived at the Ridge office only to be told at the security point cum reception at the gate that the office is not opened to the public on Fridays. I thought I heard him say the office is not opened to the public only on Fridays.
Ha! Why didn't I know this one too. Well, I had no choice than to go back to work and plan for another day. On the way, I decided to do it the next Wednesday since I was less busy on Wednesdays, hoping that no frustration will come my way again.
Early Wednesday morning about 4:15, I got to the Passport Office and waited and waited for about two hours. One of the police officers who saw me later at the frontiers of the building inquired about my mission and upon hearing told me that the office is only open to the public on Mondays and Tuesdays. What! I nearly blurted out.
Why couldn't someone tell me the whole truth if there is no mystery surrounding this whole passport renewal? Chai! Who am I to challenge a GH security officer with all their "Do you know who I am" attitude? Quietly, with all my thought buried in my head I headed to the workplace.
I was there again the next Monday morning. Indeed, there were many people applying too. With all self confident that nobody dares tell me that the day is not right for me, I was quiet in the queue for those of us applying for the release of our data. Then for a moment something struck my attention. I heard some people discussing their frustration with others and some in the process showing their application document. Attached to their passport forms were their receipts. Quickly, I rummaged through the polythene bag containing my documents and nowhere was my receipt. Then I asked one of the officials at the gate and she clearly explained that without the receipt I could not get my application through. Why has success so eluded me in the passport renewal process? Why? I wish I knew where it was. Without wasting much time I set off straight to the house and lo and behold, there it was in my drawer.
It was so obvious that if indeed I was bent on getting the application done, then the following day was the day to go there again. I went to work.
Tuesday morning I was there and now everything went through. I mean my documents were briefly scrutinised by the officials and I was asked to submit it in one of the offices in the building. I did and I was asked to return the following day at 2 O'Clock for it. Now I could heave a sigh of relief after clearing step one.
I went for my application form with my old passport the following day as said. Another smile creased my face.
Part 2 soon... Please!!
I vividly remember the day. It was Wednesday, January 21, 2015 at the University of Ghana in front of the Balme Library🏦. We sat on the wall and my inviter (my Swiss mum) discussed with me the invitation to visit Switzerland. Throughout the one week remaining her stay she demonstrated her commitment to her invitation in diverse ways (cash 💰inclusive). Please don't ask me how much it was. I beg, I chop am dadaaaada.
Unlike those who will do anything just to travel abroad in search of greener pastures, I was just a tourist🚶. However, I had my fair share of the numerous frustrations 😪 that one has to go through in order to travel✈️.
So in February I started to renew my passport. Make no mistake about it, my passport was not expired. Authentic information from the Swiss Embassy in Ghana states clearly that the expiration of ones passport must not be less than three months after the expiration of the visit duration. I was to visit in July and return on August 19 and my passport was due to expire in September (just a month after I'm due to return). So obviously the renewal was very essential and a must.
I bought a new form and filled just like the process of acquiring a new one. I was not perturbed at all since I knew that that was the regulation. After filling the form and with our school headmaster's endorsement, I went to the passport office on Friday, January 30, 2015 very early in the morning. The number of people who were there by 4:30 when I got there and the many 'Goro Boys' or better still, 'connection men' who were parading the frontiers of the passport office indeed is a subject for another discussion.
At 6:30, some officials came round to check our forms and when satisfied to some extent gave out a number to the applicant. When it got to my turn, the officer realised that I was 'just' renewing my passport and so asked me to go to the Passport Office at Ridge first. According to him, that was where to start such application from since all the previous data are stored. So what I was in effect going to do was what they referred to as 'Release to Scan'. Indeed, I was just angry inside and I tried not to show it since I thought that such a process should have been known somewhere either on a notice board or elsewhere just so that people wouldn't have to come and waste time just like I did. But as I intimated, I swallowed it and made my way to Ridge. Little did I know that that was the genesis of my woes.
I arrived at the Ridge office only to be told at the security point cum reception at the gate that the office is not opened to the public on Fridays. I thought I heard him say the office is not opened to the public only on Fridays.
Ha! Why didn't I know this one too. Well, I had no choice than to go back to work and plan for another day. On the way, I decided to do it the next Wednesday since I was less busy on Wednesdays, hoping that no frustration will come my way again.
Early Wednesday morning about 4:15, I got to the Passport Office and waited and waited for about two hours. One of the police officers who saw me later at the frontiers of the building inquired about my mission and upon hearing told me that the office is only open to the public on Mondays and Tuesdays. What! I nearly blurted out.
Why couldn't someone tell me the whole truth if there is no mystery surrounding this whole passport renewal? Chai! Who am I to challenge a GH security officer with all their "Do you know who I am" attitude? Quietly, with all my thought buried in my head I headed to the workplace.
I was there again the next Monday morning. Indeed, there were many people applying too. With all self confident that nobody dares tell me that the day is not right for me, I was quiet in the queue for those of us applying for the release of our data. Then for a moment something struck my attention. I heard some people discussing their frustration with others and some in the process showing their application document. Attached to their passport forms were their receipts. Quickly, I rummaged through the polythene bag containing my documents and nowhere was my receipt. Then I asked one of the officials at the gate and she clearly explained that without the receipt I could not get my application through. Why has success so eluded me in the passport renewal process? Why? I wish I knew where it was. Without wasting much time I set off straight to the house and lo and behold, there it was in my drawer.
It was so obvious that if indeed I was bent on getting the application done, then the following day was the day to go there again. I went to work.
Tuesday morning I was there and now everything went through. I mean my documents were briefly scrutinised by the officials and I was asked to submit it in one of the offices in the building. I did and I was asked to return the following day at 2 O'Clock for it. Now I could heave a sigh of relief after clearing step one.
I went for my application form with my old passport the following day as said. Another smile creased my face.
Part 2 soon... Please!!
Friday, 4 March 2016
Impoverishing Teachers versus Developing Education
“Education can break the cycle of
poverty and abuse” – J. D. Mahama (SoNA - February 25, 2016). Without a doubt, the
essence of education cannot be overemphasized. The impact of sustainable and developmental
education permeates positively all aspects of our lives and all sectors of the
economy. And suffice to say, in the
centre of education is the teacher. The teacher is a resource. The teacher is an
absolute gem. The teacher is also part of the development of education.
Too many times teachers just like
many other professionals have had to embark on strike to press home their
demands on what is due them. The three professional teacher bodies namely Ghana
National Association of Teachers (GNAT), National Association of Graduate
Teachers (NAGRAT) and the Coalition of Concerned Teachers have all on many and
separate occasions called on their members to put down their teaching materials
to embark on the strike euphemistically referring to them as attending a series
of negotiation meeting.
Just within last week, what is
deemed to be unprecedented in the usual strike threats was issued by the teachers.
The three professional teacher unions together made a case to impress on
government through the Ghana Education Service (GES) to pay their salaries
outstanding. The ultimatum was given as Monday, February 29, 2016. After this
date, the country according to the executives of these unions would experience a
massive country-wide strike action.
The GES vehemently denied the fifteen
million Ghana cedis (GHC15million) owing them by government. This is the
accumulation of amounts outstanding over the period from 2012 to 2015. However,
the Minister of Employment and Labour Relations, Hon. Haruna Iddrisu noted the truth
in the claims of the unions and was rather swift after a negotiation meeting
with the executives of the union to order the ‘immediate’ release of One
million and seven hundred thousand Ghana Cedis (GHC1.7million). This is just about a
tenth of the teachers’ demand.
Just two days after the ‘order to
release the money’ was issued, the president of the Republic and Commander-in-Chief
of the Ghana Armed Forces, His Excellency Dr John Dramani Mahama delivered his
State of the Nation’s Address. I was very happy when I heard him speak about the
state of education in the nation right after the usual vocatives and
sympathizing with parliament over their loss of a member. This is evidently a
demonstration of the importance with which the president attaches to education.
So in the state of education, the
president spoke about the increment in the enrolment made possible by the
implementation of the free education policy, free exercise and textbooks, sandals
and uniforms distribution and the school feeding programme. The few schools
built out of the two hundred (200) community day Senior High Schools are also
contributing to the increased access to education.
The statistics given in what the
president called ‘Evidence-based State of the Nation Address’ was indeed
impressive and one could not but agree with the fact that there has been a
monumental increase in access to education. This is what a developing nation
poised at reaching developmental goals must do in spite of all problems
bedevilling the economy.
With all these wonderful policies
and their implementation, one wonders why the teacher is so marginalized. The
teachers are directly under the GES and for the service to refuse to work in
their interest leaves much to be desired. But how could they not know or better
still refuse to know about such gargantuan amount owed their employees?
Make no mistake about it, this
has been the number one reason teachers in the country have always embarked on
strike. But is that all there is as far as things militating against the teacher
development are concerned? A big fat no! Many are the problems that the typical
Ghanaian teacher is confronted with in both the private and public sectors.
About a year and half ago, I
called an English language teacher at Tanoso Model Junior High School located
in Sunyani in the Brong Ahafo Region of Ghana, Mr Peter Suaka, on phone. I had
never met this gentleman before and we have never met since I made the call to
him. The message was simple; I called and congratulated him on an interesting
and thought-provoking article he had published about the plight of teachers. As
a professional and practised teacher, Mr Suaka brought his experience to bear
in that no-nonsense article titled, ‘But Who Speaks for the Teacher?’ I was
just fascinated by the analyses he made while he gave a direct response to the
cause of teachers’ plight in his assessment.
I have decided to give highlights
from that detailed article. In which case, I urge you to read directly the
about 1700 word document published on October 16, 2014. His call on teachers to
be assertive and speak openly about their plight was direct rubbishing the
unscripted but widespread ‘culture of silence’ on their part. (http://myjoyonline.com/opinion/2014/October-16th/but-who-speaks-for-the-teacher.php)
Trained teachers, professional
teachers, great teachers, experienced teachers, graduate teachers and qualified
teachers are but a few of the names we use to give ourselves some morale
booster to stay in the job. Chai… Just a little diversion; did I say ‘we use to
give ourselves’? Sorry, I just remembered I’ve not mentioned that I’m a teacher
too. But quite unfortunately, I don’t even know where to put myself oo... Still,
as pointed out by Peter, how could the great teacher likened to a great hunter
be given only a catapult to kill a lion? You may argue that with dexterity, it
is possible. I agree. However, the main issue in this is the survival and
success rate of this expert using this inadequate resource to achieve that end.
Obviously, poor resource and motivation lead to poor performance.
The twenty-first century teacher is
no longer content with the popular age-old ‘motivational’ saying that the
teacher’s pay is in heaven. Who said why not? The teacher just like all other
professionals needs to pay huge sums of money to get the needed training. The
teacher trainee allowance has even been scrapped off. Student teachers have had
to take student loans to be able to complete their courses.
Then later the teacher seeking
professional development pursues an exceedingly exorbitant Post Graduate
Diploma or Master’s degree in Education programme. Take it or leave it, it is only
the most austere living of the Ghanaian teacher that can help afford. These
high amounts charged as fees are to be paid fully before the beginning of each
semester. Respectfully, I ask, how possibly could such an excruciatingly elephantine
earthly expense be made only for one to be asked to just cool off with the
expectation of a heavily heavenly reward while others enjoy? Oh yes, while
others enjoy. Hmm… I just sighed, nothing else.
For one thing, Mr Suaka commented
on the rather monetization of our society. The society including the church
with its clergy is even so corrupted that one is offered a particular status
depending on her or his wealth. The depth of one’s reasoning, experience and
capabilities are relegated into the abyss of irrelevance. To a very large
extent, many do not even question the source of one’s wealth today. What is
important is the wealth.
What is the position then of the
deliberately impoverished teacher in this situation? Sure, deliberately
impoverished. Teachers are recruited by the Ghana Education Service and for the
first two years, they do not receive any salary. Throughout these years or even
more, recruited teachers have to go through a very tall and unpalatable
bureaucratic process in order to get what is due them. This sad story has been
made sadder with the recent introduction of the ‘victims’ getting only three months’
salary after serving for the two or more years. And quite sadly again, only those
who are closer to the powers that be are those whose applications are processed
quicker.
So we indeed impoverish the
teachers. After which, we expect miracles from them. The students must pass
their exams. The students must become responsible people. The students must get
a high earning job. The students must have national recognition in their future
endeavours. When these fail, the teachers are to blame. These expectations come
in the midst of all the confusion. And a time when even the students know how
impoverished their teachers are and of course do not want to aspire to become
like them. Fortunately, I have not experienced any outright rudeness from any
of my students. But even if it does happen, my conviction is that I am rich no
matter what.
It’s very commendable government’s
commitment toward improving educational standards and access in the country.
However, it’s high time real recognition was given to teachers. The government
must make a conscious and concerted effort to improve the lot of teachers, if
not more than the politicians. The government must remove all the bottlenecks
to ensure that teachers get what is due them, if not more, on time. While these
are being done, the government must ensure that the teachers in the private
sector also get what is due them since every Ghanaian child deserves the best
of tuition from Ghanaian motivated and resourced teachers.
My name is Sir Joseph Appah (Sir
Joe, for short), a title given to me by my students which I never trivialise.
My slogan has always been, “Still a teacher…”
Friday, 26 February 2016
LOVE'S THE SWEETEST THING...
Love’s the
simplest but sweetest thing created
Wishes best for
present, future and even belated
Love’s
achievements abound and unprecedented
I concur; love
without real reason leads you delusional
Emotionally unemotional
--
On a path,
unwanted
Certainly
setting the agenda to engender hatred
Love’s
the simplest but sweetest thing created
Wishes
best for present, future and even belated
Foetus’s
umbilical cord tautly tied to mum
Keeping
them tightly together without gum
All in
love
The
ordeal, trauma and sleepless nights wait
The
vomiting, spitting linger as if it’s fate
The
D-day’s agonising agony
As if of
the torture of first degree felony
Alas, the
sight of bouncing baby’s all things above
Love’s
the simplest but sweetest thing created
Wishes best
for present, future and even belated
The
massaging, cuddling and fondling
What a
sweet bubbling feeling
Patiently nursing the seedling
As the
enema of love administers
And the soothing
lullaby overpowers the sensational cry
While breast
nourishes playing its roles
Connecting
the stronger and fragile souls
Love’s
the simplest but sweetest thing created
Wishes best
for present, future and even belated
A daddy’s
eye flicker
Gazing
admiringly while the object of his fatherhood frogs
Playing in
the sand with dogs
Taa taa
tuu tuu the tiny legs on the road as they mould
A sight
to behold
The splashing
of surfeit hugs and kisses
Replacing
misses
When the
day gets longer
Love’s
the simplest but sweetest thing created
Wishes
best for present, future and even belated
Those
years in the sweet adorable teens
Using every
possibly impossible means
The boy
finds the girl and after her he goes
Every
move, every pose
Finding
Gehena snowflakes for her he must
Emulating
adults
Till the
die is cast
I call it
love, they call it lust
Love’s
the simplest but sweetest thing created
Wishes
best for present, future and even belated
When
maturity finds the man
In his
room his Eve places her gun
In an
institution societally touted
Bringing
a man and a woman so united
Into
their bosoms they clench
As their
sensual inferno they quench
Deep locomotive
love like an abyss
Refreshingly refreshes, striking to eternal
bliss
A gift unseen
yet massively appreciated
Love’s
the simplest but sweetest thing created
Wishes
best for present, future and even belated
© MC Sir Joe,
February 2016
Tuesday, 23 February 2016
Inside the Bishop's Bible
How could I decide to stop
writing my opinions on issues making the round? Or was it a break? For whatever
that it was, I’m back and that is the good news, I guess. In any case, even if
I earlier decided to stop, like Jeremiah of old said about the preaching of
word of God, I cannot stop for I feel it burning within my bones to speak.
For about three weeks now the media
has been bubbling with the news of our Osofo one… the ‘chameleon’ pastor,
Bishop Daniel Obinim of the International God’s Way Church. Many are those who
have written extensively about his outburst concerning his ability to change
into whatever that he desires when he ‘enters the spiritual world’. Indeed, his
interview on the OB TV, a television channel he owns, was not the first time he
was making such a pronouncement about such ability. Sometime last year, I mistakenly,
yes mistakenly, tuned my television to his channel on the MultiTV and heard him
rant about how he is ‘spiritually’ capable of turning into an armed robber to
rob his critics. Or is it enemies? Where were the security agencies? Chai! I’m
scared too oo…
I read an article in Manasseh
Azure’s Folder titled, “If Mensa Otabil and Daniel Obinim were Muslims”
published on Sept., 25, 2015 (http://www.manassehazure.com/2015/09/manassehs-folder-if-mensa-otabil-and-daniel-obinim-were-muslims/).
What a fine comparison the senior journalist made between these men of God. And
this was about four months before this ‘animal talk’. Kobina Ansah, the
satirist and Mirror Newspaper columnist also touched on the recent unprovoked explosion
in his article title, “When Snakes wear Cassocks…” published in the Friday,
February 19, 2016 issue of the Mirror. And of course, in his usual satirical
stance, the playwright posed the rhetorical question that “There is a Lion of
Judah. Aren’t we glad to have a Snake of Ghana?” Hahaha! Koby paa…
So who is he really? And I’m
certainly left wondering. Supposing I were to introduce this man of God at any
gathering in my capacity as a Professional Corporate and Social Master of
Ceremonies (kindly don’t ask me who baptised
me with that title. Hehe!), what would be the appropriate message about
him?
Let me hazard one: “Discussing
our next topic, ‘Animals in the House of God’ is a man who has risen steadily from
a humble beginning to become a great snake, ei, son of God. He has shattered,
ei as3m oo, I mean shepherded, many and has still not relented. Some call him
Diabolo, others call him Opete. Osofo Broni I call him. Haha! With a resounding
and thunderous round of applause, let’s welcome the bishop who stamps on the
belly of pregnant women, the only bishop who is in town, Bishop Daaanieel
Ooobiinim!”
For one thing that I have noted,
Bishop Obinim is that man who loves to play to the gallery. I mean he has the
penchant for using any possibly impossible means to garner attention that is
not due him. That reminds me; how on earth a man of God worth his salt would
for whatever reason that there is pick up masonry tools as pickaxes, shovels
and hammer to beat up media men who were discussing issues concerning him in a
live radio programme. Sure, he had the attention. For over a month, the media
was talking about him.
Then later, there was the alleged
issue of how he slept with one of his female congregants. This issue did not
just end at the level of the amorous relationship but also he confessed, no,
stated quite frankly without remorse that he had also cursed the baby that was
conceived out of that relationship. What a man of God!
This is the part where one could
not but agree with the assertion that our Bishop Obinim loves the publicity
stunts. I have absolutely no doubt in my mind that this is the case. While many
young men and women are struggling and working their hearts out to come to the
limelight with their works, others just like the bishop are using shortcut. And
believe it or not, the hype is great for them.
The Bible was clear in the book
of Romans 3:23, “For all have sinned…” So I’m a sinner and you are a sinner too.
Apparently, that is not debatable. However, the issue of contention is when the
individual is in a position where his actions or inactions have a preponderant
effect on a large following. Then it calls for alarm.
Kindly forgive me for sounding
like a pastor. Unfortunately I’m not and I cannot also make the claim of being
a bible scholar. That’s why I want to know if there’s any part of the Holy
Bible that makes it clear that power is given to those who are called by God to
be able to turn into anything including snakes when they enter the spiritual
realm. I shudder to hasten to a conclusion, but I believe it’s only inside the
Bishop’s Bible.
Sunday, 6 December 2015
British Council's Connecting Classroom Workshop Organised!
Some twenty-nine teachers in about fourteen schools in the Greater Accra Region can heave sigh of relief as they have been taken through a training programme to ease their work.
The training programme, Connecting Classrooms, is a British Council's flagship global education programme which is co-funded by the Department for International Development was facilitated by an ace Life and Personal Development Coach, Ekow Mensah.
The workshop took place at the plush Alisa Hotels in Accra on Thursday, December 3, 2015 between the hours of 0900 and 1700 GMT.
According to a letter dated November 25, 2015 and signed by the British Council's Northern Regions Manager, Maxwell Osei, and distributed to the participating schools, the one-day workshop was aimed at helping "young people to develop knowledge, skills and values to live and work in a globalised economy and make positive contribution locally and globally".
The teacher-participants who were drawn from different public and private schools were taken through different activity-based discussions on how to teach their children the core skills.
The six core skills which are worthy of incorporation in the education of every child include Critical thinking and problem solving, Collaboration and Communication, Creativity and imagination, Citizenship, Digital literacy, and Student Leadership and personal development.
The ever-eloquent Mr Mensah advised the participants against using any of the bad questioning approaches. He however emphasised the need to use improved questioning strategies based on Bloom's Taxonomy to guide their students into deep learning.
The teacher-participants were made to collaborate on different levels to achieve activity outcomes. These collaborations range from a whole-group brainstorm to small group role plays. After experiencing all the different collaborative activities, the participants were asked to think about which of them were they most comfortable with and which were they least comfortable with. The outcomes varied.
The whole workshop was in three sessions with a coffee break and lunch. The least said about the buffet for lunch the better. I'm only praying that another Teacher workshop be organised at the same place as soon as possible. Haha!
Joseph Appah (PC&SMC)
-still, a teacher...
Thursday, 14 May 2015
Joseph Appah hosts CPR's Maiden Edition of Mothers' Day Lecture & Dinner
Ghanaians as usual joined the rest of the world on Sunday, May 10, 2015 to commemorate the much anticipated Mother's Day, a day set aside to honour mothers for their invaluable impact on our lives. However, of all places, the spacious Volta Banquet Hall of the plush Holiday Inn near the Kotoka International Airport in Accra became the main centre of attraction as it came alive with a super event bringing together some of the crème de la crème of the Ghanaian society.
The event, 'Mothers' Day Lectures and Dinner' was hinged on the theme, "Essence of Motherhood in Holistic Development" and organised by the Centre for Peace and Reconciliation (CPR) with support from the Holiday Inn. It was a night replete with a perfect blend of education and excitement. With the award-winning Accra West Brigade Band arranging themselves finely in one corner and filling the hall with carefully selected smooth gospel tunes, the event started. A member of the Apostolic Council of the Great Commission Church International, Apostle Richard Adanu said the opening prayer invoking God's blessings for a successful event.
Speaking on the topic, 'The Ideal Mother', a pastor at the Kingsway International Christian Centre, Rev. Helen Yawson extolled the virtues of an ideal mother. Using the letters in the word 'IDEAL', she explained that the key roles of the mother summarily are inspiration, development, education, affirmation and love.
While noting that mothers may not be able to play all the roles excellently due to their imperfection, Rev. Yawson, who is also a vocal trainer, admonished that by dint of hardwork much can be achieved by the ideal mother.
According to her, mothers are supposed to be a source of inspiration for the family. They must let their children feel motivated by their words and deeds.
She said that "a mother must be able to fill their children with the ability to do something more than who they are". In order to achieve that, she advocated that the parents must speak positively into their children's lives and make them understand that "they can do all things through Christ who strengthens them"
Speaking on the mothers' role of developing and educating, the astute female preacher asserted that mothers must identify the unique abilities, talents and potentials of their children and nurture them. According to her, "a mother knows that no two children are the same", so she advised that the children must however be treated differently in their nurturing. She explained that the ideal mother nurtures her children differently while noting that it requires much effort to do that.
"It takes a skill to differentiate children and nurture them differently based on their unique abilities," she said.
Therefore to help the children develop their unique abilities, the Worship leader pointed out that, mothers must "give their children specific tasks based on their unique capabilities to nurture their talents".
To her, mothers must make deliberate effort to tutor their children to acquire certain skills that will help them in the future such as communication skills and house chores.
Rev. Yawson called on all mothers to affirm their children. To her, mothers must continually tell their children individually that "I believe in you". With this affirmation from the mother, the child is less likely to seek advise from outside.
She concluded her lecture admonishing mothers to show genuine love to their children and always say, "I love you" to them.
On her part, the Chief Executive Officer of GDA Concepts and host of Standpoint, Dr Gifty Anti noted that irrespective of the height of achievement of anyone, without the influence of the mother in the home, there is always a void.
Speaking on the topic, 'When mothers are absent', she recounted her personal experience bemoaning the lack of significant motherly influence in her life even when the mother was alive. She however, showered impressive accolades on her father who even during his retirement as a Gold Coast trained police officer did not relent but did everything he could including taking up menial jobs such as a watchman to see her through school.
Using her personal experience as an example, she noted that it is not just having biological children that qualifies one as a mother but "touching the life of a child [positively] means you are a mother".
The multi-award winning journalist cited several instances where some parents especially the mothers fail to discuss with their children sex related issues and some had been led astray. She therefore appealed to mothers to communicate with their children especially the girls to have a bond with them.
The President and Chief Executive Officer of CPR, Dr Emmanuel Kojo Hopeson took his turn to discuss the topic, "When mothers lead: An integrated approach" after the Brigade band had aided audience to sink the earlier messages with a short gospel highlife tune.
He noted that the family is the basic unit of the society. So any wrong in the society could be traced to the family. That is why he believes that the roles of everybody in the family must be played well to ensure a better society.
In doing so, the Minister of the Gospel and Counselling Psychologist noted that the mothers have significant roles to play as he defined the mothers as leaders.
"In leading, it is not a way of ruling or a way of authority. It's a way of contributing in helping to make the home home and to make the children feel cared for," he explained.
He observed that many women work tirelessly in order to be equal with men but he opined that that is not necessary as women are already equal with men.
"It is not now they are going to cry for equality, their responsibility is already to help support as somebody who has been endowed with strength to pick up and help somebody to fulfil a dream and a vision," the Integrated Marriage and Family Therapist noted.
He discussed some stress levels among mothers. Some of which according to him, among other things, are as a result of work and career and finance and limited resources. He therefore called on the women to seek expert help to deal with their stress.
The Minister of the gospel concluded his lecture by inviting all and sundry to join in praying for the development of the country and seeking reconciliatory blessings from God.
In his closing remark, a Supreme Court judge, His Lordship Justice Victor Dotse noted that some mothers could be very mean to their own children. He cited an instance where a mother was using monies meant for her son's school fees and upkeep to buy funeral clothes. The legal luminary advised all mothers to seek the interests of their children and eschew any behaviour that hinder their children's progress.
In attendance was also the Commandant of the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping and Training Centre, Major-General Obed Boamah Akwah.
The ever-sensational gospel singer and writer, Uncle Ato was there to perform some of his all time hit songs.
The programme was emceed by Joseph Appah.
Joseph Appah is a Professional Corporate & Social MC
Thursday, 7 May 2015
TRUE STORY: Who Deserves the Reward?
It was WEDNESDAY, May 6, 2015 at 0630GMT. I got to the bus stop and as usual and saw there was a queue. But I saw two ladies who were anxiously rummaging through a brown ladies' bag. Chai! Don't ask me how big the bag is. Just guess. Charlie, leave me alone so I can continue with the true story. Just when I joined the queue a a trotro just came in and we eased ourselves in. I was so engrossed in some whatsapping, you know, oblivious of whatever that was happening.
Just then, I was figuratively awaken to the reality around me by the cry of one of the passengers. 'What!' I thought to myself. I watched her closely and listened keenly to her conversation on the phone. Oh Gosh! Not again, she's been robbed of her mobile phone. Apparently, she was telling whoever that was on the other side of the call about her predicament. But I couldn't hear clearly so as inquisitive as I was, I waited and when she was done, I tried to find out from her how it happened.
In sobs, she narrated her ordeal. "When I was on my to board a vehicle at this place, a certain private car pulled up beside me. The driver, a female, lowered the windscreen and drew my attention. I gave her an attention and she told me that I resemble someone she knows, a cousin of hers. She told me her cousin is Adjoa. I replied her as usual in the typical Ghanaian show of niceness. She quickly offered that I get in the car so she can drop me off at the bus stop. I gladly accepted the offer. I sat beside two other ladies who were already engrossed in a hearty conversation.
While in the vehicle, I just continued with I was doing earlier while on the way, whatsapping on my brand new phone.
In just three minutes time we were at the bus stop. I thanked her then pulled the doorknob to open but it wasn't opening. I tried again and it didn't again. Then the driver told me to put the phone in my bag and stretch my hand to use the doorknob outside to open. I gladly did. The door opened. I thanked her again and I alighted. I thanked again.
I walked quickly to join the queue with the thought of the phone in my bag. Just when I joined the queue, I decided to continue from where I left off the whatsapping. The phone was nowhere to be found."
She paused for a while and swore to do all she could to get that GHC1200 worth of phone that someone dashed her to reward her hard work.
I thought, very silly though, that this may be also the reward of such carefully orchestrated thievery. What a wow! The phone is gone for good. May be a little lesson there for the 'lift' lovers.
Joseph Appah (writer) is a Professional Corporate & Social MC
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