PEACEFUL ELECTION 2016

GHANA FOR PEACEFUL ELECTION 2016.

Indeed I have no iota of doubt that Ghana is already swimming in a pool of peace and therefore there is no need to call for another peace, as some critics argue.

These critics find it very strange and more so, can not understand why people should continue preaching peace when there is an already peaceful coexistence among neighbours in the country.

Forgetting that despite the level of water in the sea, it still rains into it. They assumably believe that these cause might rather have the tendency to trigger confusion or public disillusionment.

Due to our attitude as humans, the best way to sustain any good cause of action is by constantly reminding us and continuous practice.

As a nation, we have just few hours to go to poll, to decide, to make or repeat history and to justify to the rest of the world our level of maturity in the practice of democracy.

The National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC), the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA), Public and Private Organizations and other individuals with support from Star Ghana, the European Union, UKaid and DANIDA have all contributed immensely towards the peace crusade.

It is therefore appropriate on every electorate to compliment the effort of these crusaders by simply adhering to the standard practice of election to entrench the position of the crusaders.

Election is simply going to the poll to exercise your franchise (a constitutionally mandated right), to make a choice, but not an occasion to exhibit to the world how strong we are, not the moment to tell people we have patented violence and crave for war. And even if you feel you are stronger than anyone else, just relax because the next edition of the "Ghana Most Strongest" will commence soon.

My dear brothers and sisters, I love you all and I will want to see you all alive and kicking after 7th December.

So kindly go to the poll on the day of voting, cast your ballots and leave for home peacefully and you can decide to come back after 5:00pm to witness the counting process. That's All !!!!

Remember! Ghana is practicing DemoCRACY but not DemoCRAZY
Let's avoid speeches that do not edify, words that are divisive, languages that would leave the youth wondering were Wisdom had fled to and finally actions that will end us up in the 1979 Mumprugu Yooyo, Cowboy days that I describe as "Rambo Days" in Ghana.

Remember that Voting is your Constitutional Right and Civic Responsibility.
Go out and Vote on Issues.

YOU DECIDE, I DECIDE, TOGETHER WE MAKE A DECISION.

SHALOM!!!!

#IamTheManInWhite#✋🏻
#Iam4PeacefulElection2016#✋🏻

The writer of this piece is the External Affairs Commissioner(Local NUGS & GUPS President) of the Nation's Premier Communication University, Ghana Institute of Journalism.
A brother in the enterprise of Student Activism and a Peace Ambassador.

TETTEH DJEM BISMARK
0245799748
bismarktette27@gmail.com

GIJ IS NEITHER A PUB NOR A HUB

GIJ'S BAN ON MINI-SKIRTS, MY BITE OF THE CHERRY.

I have observed with considerable interest the mixed feelings that has greeted the decision of the management of the nation's premier communication University, the Ghana Institute of Journalism (GIJ)  to place a complete ban on the wearing of shorts or mini-skirts by its students.

This intention was first disclosed by the indefatigable rector of the Institute at its last matriculation which was held on October 3, 2016. Following this announcement, I told myself that this rector wouldn't be spared by the so-called feminists and human rights advocates in our society. Truly, they haven't disappointed.

I have listened to interviews and read a number of pieces authored by these critics, where they sought to take our learned professor to the cleaners for an otherwise innocuous decision meant to restore our moral fibre and bring dignity to the 21st century female student of the nation's premier University of Communications.

They also sought to create an erroneous impression that the GIJ management had an anti-feminist agenda for contemplating this move in the first place. 

Well, some of us consider this criticism as unwarranted and one that can be likened to the change process which were thought by Mr. Frimpong Manso Esq. in his History of Africa and Anthropology classes.

I had been observing passively until a recent article by a writer who for reasons best known to him/her and of course the never aging Oldman in Heaven, and wrote under the psyeudonym 'Nyamewaa' shook my spine and woke my pen from sleep.

I wholly associate myself with the management's decision and will begrudge anybody who chastises them. Indeed, as a Brand Ambassador of GIJ, I am equally concerned about the increasing rate at which our female colleagues, who are supposed to be role models in society, tend to expose their nudity to the public under the pretext of civilisation.

You go exposing your vital organs and in the process, bring down your dignity, and lower the enviable reputation of the school. Creating unnecessary attention to yourself and you call that civilisation? Civilisation indeed! Such moral incongruity is absolutely unacceptable and must not be countenanced at all.

For Nyamewaa, as my brother Mannesseh Azure noted, she had a nice headline but poorly structured content. I have decided not to delve much into the content of the article because I can, by no means relate the Content of the article to the Headline "GIJ students need more grammar lessons than clothes ban".

The content is only a ton of insults attacking management, the Women's Commissioner and the entire GIJ family. She had the effrontery to call this particular decision of  management as "foolish" thinking that it is the best of journalistic standards and practice.

And she forgot to take into cognizance, the fact that GIJ is a professional institution that was established under the clairvoyance of Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah and therefore her  students must exhibit professionalism in all their endeavours, including their dress code.

We cannot overstate that professionalism is not necessarily showcased in paper work alone but mostly in code of conduct which encapsulates a sense of responsibility, character and decency
The last time I checked, a person is called by the way he/she dress. And I don't think one will be referred to as a professional  if the person dresses like someone going to the club or a night-street worker.

I believe in the power of conscience, so I am hopeful that Nyamewaa will do the honourable thing and apologise to GIJ for her outburst.

I wish to conclude by reiterating in unequivocal terms that, GIJ is neither a pub nor a hub for night workers, but a serious professional institution that is concerned with the enterprise of training, moulding and producing scores of well shaped and cultured Journalists and Public Relations Officers for Socio-Ecomomic and Political development of our country.

I am sure Nyamewaa will be marking my grammar by now.

The writer of this piece is the External Affairs Commissioner of GIJ-SRC and a Concerned Professional Student in the enterprise of Students Activism.

Tetteh Djem Bismark (Man In White)
bismarktetteh27@gmail.com

A. M. A ON THE MOVE, CITIZENS MUST ESCHEW PRIMITIVE BEHAVIORS

👉A. M. A ON THE MOVE, CITIZENS MUST ESCHEW PRIMITIVE BEHAVIORS.

So over the weekend, I decided to take a tour in town especially around the key market centers. This was to satisfy my curiousity on how the Accra Metropolitan Assembly is working to bridge the gap between good health and the sanitation issues which have become the bedrock for most calamities during perennial rainfalls in the city.

Despite the inestimable dangers that flood poses to society and our cities in particular, very little is being done by the authorities to either mitigate such it's menacing impact or completely nip same in the bud. This, I find rather inexplicable and worrying. It is no more newsworthy to hear that floods have subsumed most of cities because it happens every year. Yet, we only pay lip service to this rather deleterious natural canker.

Is it the case that there are no funds, wait! Did I just say no funds? Or there are no proper implementation structures to get legislations to function properly. Or is it a case of "It doesn't belong to my father so I careless" .

The fact that city authorities and institutions mandated to directly confront this issue have failed in the discharge their responsibility shouldn't give you, the ordinary citizen, the trump card to also sit unconcerned. Remember, you are more affected by floods than them irrespective of your location. So the sooner you embrace attitudinal change, the better for you and by extension, the society.

Going back to my original conversation before I drifted into lamentations, I realized that the A. M. A has provided waste bins at the corner of every streets at the market centres. Yes! Trust me, when I say that, the bins are so available that just by the stretch of a hand, one can find one to dispose their waste. (I don't mean those from your various homes).

The sad situation is that in the midst of these several waste bins, there are a lot of pure water sachet and other plastic wastes littered on the floor around the waste bins.

Is it that people can't see or they just want to continue in that "colonial" mentality that, someone is paid to clean?

At the Kaneshie market for instance, there used to be a heap of refuse that was as tall as height as Mount Everest. It is however gratifying to note that, the A. M. A has cleared up the entire heap from the market providing bins all over. I equally noticed how the Zoomlion Personnel were running here and there in a bid to keep the whole place neat and tidy.

Meanwhile, some individuals were busily messing up the whole place when they drink their sachet water, they could not keep the water sachet in their bags or pockets, or the waste bins which possibly is an arm stretch away. What at all is wrong with us? We seem to be losing our sense of responsibility and nation building.

This "uncultured" action I describe as deliberate, is a calculated attempt to cripple the hard effort of the A. M. A . Are there no bye-laws that empower A.M.A to  punish recalcitrant citizens? Why the inertia in allowing the law to bite? The culture of impunity in this country is just sickening. Why are we not enforcing the relevant sanitation laws in order to create the necessary deterrent regime?

In a car to Makola which happens to be the heart of Accra, a "gentleman" drunk a bottle of water and threw it on the road but it never occurred to him to put it in the vehicle, he argued that the driver had already yelled at him for leaving a waste in the car.

Just as we got down we saw this market woman who had dumped a lot of refuse at a new site she had created. The most frustrating part is that where she disposed the waste was just next to two big dustbins. That is how sad the narrative has become. A lot of people deliberately create waste which turns out to be huge problems and turn around to blame authorities for their woes when disaster strikes. We are our own enemies. The seed of hypocrisy we sow will always grow in the bellies of people without conscience.

We can together help abate these irresponsible behaviours if we put our shoulders to the wheels and push along instead of blaming others for our mistakes and failures. That is tantamount to assuming a defeatist attitude in the midst of reality.

My name is Bismark Tetteh and I promise not to litter the city ever again, stand with me to help build a better, safer and neat country for generations yet unborn. This is a call for national duty and I humbly invite you to join me in this crusade for love of God and country.

#IamTheManInWhite#
#AndI'mOnTheMove#

THE PRICE FOR RAMADAN: A QUICK OBSERVATION -COME WITH ME👬👫

RAMADAN WITH THE MAN IN WHITE   
While at my school's (Ghana Institute of Journalism) cafeteria this afternoon with a bottle of chilled Malta Guinness struggling to put some words together for this piece, a female colleague approached me. Her bane was to find why I was writing about Ramadan even though am not a Muslim as she said. Her other headache was to find out if I was doing so to occupy the territory (heart) of a Muslim lady maybe I am chasing on campus or elsewhere.

I frankly eschewed any comment since it had the propensity to cause her emotions to malfunction. I also spare her because I felt she was suffering from verbal diarrhea and perhaps her comment was born out of religious rudimentary.

I have as of last week criticized a comment from the National Peace Council calling on Muslim Youths to avoid violence and promote peace come election 2016 (Am not being too antagonistic though). A comment which in my humble view I described as pinpointing and connotes that Muslim Youths are mostly the forbearers of violence. I disliked the headline not because I was doing so either to assuage my hunger or satisfy my Master's will. But I at least someway understand the principle of religious tolerance and know several Muslims who are ambassadors of peace,  and worthy to emulate.

I nearly lost focus and interest to write but once again, I felt my conscience would never forgive me should I fail to write a simple piece wishing my great and wonderful Muslims friends, colleagues and senior comrade in the likes of Bilkis Nuhu Kokroko,  Mr. Zacharia Tanko, Mr. Umaru Sanda, Shayaw Mohammed Deen Abubakr,  Yakub Alfa Suleiman, Miss Suruaiya Gomda; my beautiful women's commissioner and equally great other Muslims like you and you who time and space will not be friendly to, Ramadan Mubarak.

Ramadan is observed by Muslims worldwide as a month of fasting to commemorate the first revelation of the Quran to Mohammed which is referred  to as the "best of times" according to Islamic believe. It is a period in which Muslims are encouraged to refrain from immoral relations and sinful behaviors that may negate the reward of fasting.

The actual price for observing Ramadan is summarized in the holy book Quran 2:185 and I quote "The month of Ramadan is that in which was revealed the Quran; a guidance for mankind and clear proofs of the guidance, and criterion (of right and wrong). And whosoever is present, let him fast the month and whosoever is sick or on a journey, a number of other days. Allah desires for ease; He desire not hardship for you; and that you should complete the period and that you should magnify Allah for having guided you, and that perhaps you may be thankful.

Before I loose control over words, I want to use this platform to wish all Muslims here and worldwide the very best of luck this season has got to offer. And that Allah will grant strength and guidance to observe the period with holiness, happiness and joy while interceding on behalf of mother Ghana and other nations. An effort which will be geared towards attaining the fear of God (tagwa) and to get the multiple spiritual reward (thawab) promised after fasting.

#RamadanMubarak#
#RamadanKareem#
#IamTheManInWhite#

JUNE 4TH: THE RAMBO DAY IN GHANA-THE STORY TOLD AS IT WERE

JUNE 4TH: THE RAMBO DAY IN GHANA-THE STORY TOLD AS IT WERE
The June 4th Revolution or June 4th Uprising, I was told to be a popular and violent uprising in Ghana in 1979 that arose out of a combination of corruption, bad governance, lack of discipline in the army and frustrations in the army and among the general public.

I was again told it was sparked when the then military government of the Supreme Military Council (SMC II) of General F K. Akuffo put then flight Lieutenant Jerry John Rawlings on public trial for attempting to overthrow the government on May 15th 1979.
We were told at the Senior High level that it happened because Rawlings was a junior soldier in the Ghanaian Army who with other soldiers were refused to be given their salaries.

I remember very well when my S. H. S 3 madam said that Rawlings turned the trial against the government by accusing it of massive corruption and requesting that his fellow accused be set free as he was soly responsible for the mutiny. He was incarcerated for sentencing. His diatribe resonated with the entire nation as there was massive suffering.

In the night of June 3rd 1979, junior military officers including Major Boakye Djan broke into the jail where Rawlings was being held and freed him, and ostensibly matched him to the national radio station to make an announcement, we were told once again.

My beautiful government mistress with a bold face told us that the first statement the public heard from Rawlings was a now legendary statement that he Rawlings had been released by the junior officers and that he was under their command. He requested all soldiers to meet with them at the Nicholson Stadium in Burma Camp in Accra.

At this point, OLONKA who just woke up from deep sleep asked whether there was going to be a football match between the Senior and Junior Soldiers at the Nicholson Stadium. The entire class together with the beautiful madam nearly laughed their heart out.

As she continued, we were told once more that the entire nation went up in uproar. The soldiers rounded up senior military officers including three former heads of states, General F. K Akuffo, Ignatious Kutu Acheampong and Afrifa for trial, they were subsequently executed by firing squad.

One of our mistress' eyes nearly fell off out of pains and solitude when she told us that though the June 4th became a noted date in Ghana's history however it has been said to be a date that brings a lot of pain and a train of anguish running through the veins of faithful Ghanaian citizens who either lost loved ones, lost businesses or had to flee the country.

The antagonistic approach argues that June 4th was once again a terrible disaster and therefore does not deserve any National recognition.

Hmmmm!!! Errrm Nana Ama please a calabash full of pito wai.

#WePrayOnceAgain#
#IamTheManInWhite#

WALLS OF GHANA SINGS SAD SONGS

WALLS OF GHANA SINGING SAD SONGS; A LESSON WELL LEARNT I GUESS.

Exactly a year today, a terrible and frustrating disaster befell this very country. Where some Innocent Ghanaian citizens met their untimely demise as a result of open negligence and absolute irresponsible behaviors, as some critics will argue.

I actually promised not to write anything with those verbose and boisterous grammar because I have been in a pensive mood and needed some quiet time to ponder over few things.
On the second thought, I felt the least these victims and bereaved families deserve were just few words of commiseration.

Moreover, when memories of those terrible and gory scenes on that fateful day seeing three good friends saying untimely goodbye to the world came to mind, I was left with no other option than to write a simple piece to express heartfelt condolence to families, friends and the nation for loosing fathers, precious mothers, siblings and innocent babies. So it is not out of place if you saw the usual 'MAN IN WHITE' in BLACK.

June 3rd could have been prevented, oh yes. It will only take you and I as individuals to write the wrongs while government and local assemblies engage in visionary policy-making and  strategic implementation to abate the effects of accidents should one occur.

Let's all put our shoulders to the wheels and push along without any hypocrisy; for the man without conscience is not only a failure to society, neither is he only as tasteless as a soup without salt but is equally as clueless as a foetus in it's mother's womb.

#WePrayForJune3rdSouls#
#IamTheManInWhite#