“The Slum Craze”: Has it just begun?

So it was, that year in and year out, governments put all efforts together in providing what they termed and term, "affordable accommodation" to citizens; So it was that over half a century now, moves have been made to "cleanse" the cities from what the experts call slums and illegal settlements; so it was that in the midst of all these moves and policies to clear chocked cities of the drain of slums and illegal settlements, governments only ended up inciting public rage "AND" so it is, that in the midst of all these strain and struggles, the matter of slums in and around the hideouts of cities still remain "a forever" issue of concern.






With over a million immigrants making their way into Accra without any assurance of a decent and affordable housing; the spate of squatting settlements becomes the order of the day.




According to a survey conducted by the Participatory Slum Upgrading Programme (PSUP), based on the factors of durable housing, access to safe drinking water, sanitation and community overcrowding; 78 slums and over 38% of persons alone exist in Accra and live in slums respectively – The smallest terrestrial region in Ghana.




The result in the massive settlements along these poorly laid out places has seen the human struggle for portable water, transportation, education and health. Sodom and Gomorrah, Old Fadama, Adabraka Odawna, Nima, Chorkor, Mamponse, are among examples of the worst places to ever live in Ghana.




Amidst all these developments and interventions by governments in and out; be they harsh or mild, the fact is that public authorities are losing the fight against The Slum Craze. Government in its quest to rebrand the face of basic accommodation is uprooting the weed by dressing its branches and not uprooting its roots.




The Coastal Lines of Accra are currently witnessing a massive slum development by squatters. These are structures haphazardly constructed with terrible layouts. You may want to take a stroll along the beaches of communities like Glefe and Mpoase in the Ablekuma South Constituency of Accra and what you are likely to fnd will be revealing; a large wave of slums yet to spring up.




I am no pessimist, neither am I a doom sayer. I believe saying it as it is sometimes suffices the truth. In this context of slums, shall I say in clear language that Government, especially the AMA is joking with its quest to wash off the stain of slums from the garment of its reputation.





If the Accra Metropolitan Assembly were to be serious as serious can be, if the AMA is in control as it claims to be, if the AMA were to administer its duties meticulously, these pictures I could not have taken.




Today we have seen how the settlement where a few Ghanaians from the Northern Region immigrated to in flee from war has expanded into Accra’s most popular slums and hub of criminality; Sodom and Gomorah;





Today, we have witnessed how innocent citizens, for lack of decent accomodation, gnash their teeth in blazing fire due to how prone their slum settlement are to fire.




In fact we continue to witness how these settlements, day in and day out, continue to breed hardened criminals of all skill and wit, continue to subject boys and girls into prostitution and worst of dash the dreams of the innocent.




If this was enough for us, AMA, we would, true to form, cut the very roots of this tree.





Twenty years from now, Accra, with this trending stagnation in the quest to root out slums will definitely be one of the worst cities ever to live in globally.




If we are serious as Government; if we care much about our people, if we claim to be that patriotic, oh! If we preach we are a Government of the people and for the people… we must act it !




The best way out in ridding not just Accra but Ghana from the ailing prevalence of slums is simply by ridding our political hearts and souls of blatant lies and empty propaganda and get our hands and minds to work!




The answer cannot be in loans and grants Mr Politician, the answer… is you.

“The Slum Craze”: Has it just begun?

So it was, that year in and year out, governments put all efforts together in providing what they termed and term, "affordable accommodation" to citizens; So it was that over half a century now, moves have been made to "cleanse" the cities from what the experts call slums and illegal settlements; so it was that in the midst of all these moves and policies to clear chocked cities of the drain of slums and illegal settlements, governments only ended up inciting public rage "AND" so it is, that in the midst of all these strain and struggles, the matter of slums in and around the hideouts of cities still remain "a forever" issue of concern.






With over a million immigrants making their way into Accra without any assurance of a decent and affordable housing; the spate of squatting settlements becomes the order of the day.




According to a survey conducted by the Participatory Slum Upgrading Programme (PSUP), based on the factors of durable housing, access to safe drinking water, sanitation and community overcrowding; 78 slums and over 38% of persons alone exist in Accra and live in slums respectively – The smallest terrestrial region in Ghana.




The result in the massive settlements along these poorly laid out places has seen the human struggle for portable water, transportation, education and health. Sodom and Gomorrah, Old Fadama, Adabraka Odawna, Nima, Chorkor, Mamponse, are among examples of the worst places to ever live in Ghana.




Amidst all these developments and interventions by governments in and out; be they harsh or mild, the fact is that public authorities are losing the fight against The Slum Craze. Government in its quest to rebrand the face of basic accommodation is uprooting the weed by dressing its branches and not uprooting its roots.




The Coastal Lines of Accra are currently witnessing a massive slum development by squatters. These are structures haphazardly constructed with terrible layouts. You may want to take a stroll along the beaches of communities like Glefe and Mpoase in the Ablekuma South Constituency of Accra and what you are likely to fnd will be revealing; a large wave of slums yet to spring up.




I am no pessimist, neither am I a doom sayer. I believe saying it as it is sometimes suffices the truth. In this context of slums, shall I say in clear language that Government, especially the AMA is joking with its quest to wash off the stain of slums from the garment of its reputation.





If the Accra Metropolitan Assembly were to be serious as serious can be, if the AMA is in control as it claims to be, if the AMA were to administer its duties meticulously, these pictures I could not have taken.




Today we have seen how the settlement where a few Ghanaians from the Northern Region immigrated to in flee from war has expanded into Accra’s most popular slums and hub of criminality; Sodom and Gomorah;





Today, we have witnessed how innocent citizens, for lack of decent accomodation, gnash their teeth in blazing fire due to how prone their slum settlement are to fire.




In fact we continue to witness how these settlements, day in and day out, continue to breed hardened criminals of all skill and wit, continue to subject boys and girls into prostitution and worst of dash the dreams of the innocent.




If this was enough for us, AMA, we would, true to form, cut the very roots of this tree.





Twenty years from now, Accra, with this trending stagnation in the quest to root out slums will definitely be one of the worst cities ever to live in globally.




If we are serious as Government; if we care much about our people, if we claim to be that patriotic, oh! If we preach we are a Government of the people and for the people… we must act it !




The best way out in ridding not just Accra but Ghana from the ailing prevalence of slums is simply by ridding our political hearts and souls of blatant lies and empty propaganda and get our hands and minds to work!




The answer cannot be in loans and grants Mr Politician, the answer… is you.

THE CURRICULA OF ENTREPRENEURSHIP: SOLUTION TO GHANA'S AILING UNEMPLOYMENT PHENOMENA

Educational systems world over, in the information age are begining to employ new strategies of course outlines mainly to beat and meet the challenging requirements in the world of work.




The current unemployment maze Ghana is currently being faced with can in a way be reduced if the introduction of entrepreneural courses into high school and college curricula is undertaken.




Research has shown that countries , especially those of the East do have their younger generation grow up to be self asserive,creative and inventive thanks to their training on how to fish not how to depend rather on the fisherfolk.




Entrepreneurship as a curricula, treats matters of initiative, teaching students how to access into various opportunities in the global economic market. This will ensure the doing something out of nothing mindset. How could a communist state fraught with much liberal inhibitions be rubbing shoulders with the number one world econoic power, USA? The answer is much simple; they export more than they import. In order words, they major in self subsistence and minor in exrternal aid and dependence. This is what entreprenuership has to offer.




Itis much clear how Ghana's traditional working market keeps getting chocked by the thousands of thousands of graduates who are annually churned out. These are academic brains stuffed with the theoretical bunch and virtualities of human living when actually it shouldnt be the case. The recording of over 47% graduate unemployment in the country, according to the Ghana Statistcal Service is much cause to worry over a possible feeble Ghanaian ecopolitical society in the near future were nothing but dependence and indecision stand as a economic mentalities.




Pre historic details tracing back to the 8th century gives graphic details of how dependent and economically sound West Africa was long before the arrival of Diego D'Asambuja. In fact the production and export of foodstuffs, livestock, clothing, weapons..you name it are all indicators of entrepreneural capacities these indigenes exuded long before education was established or the study of history.




Lookng on thousands of years after is a clear witness of the opposite. The consumption and trade policy of Ghana and Africa as a whole has been the "gimme gimme" economic approach. How can the continent's economy flourish if this remains the staunted approach to reaching economic growth?




Bringing back the culture of subsistence, the philosophy of independence, the power of one, Africa and Ghana can and will rise again; if and only if the corridors of entrepreneurship are plied once again. We can regain back our Pan African identity if the basis of our faith and economic purpose isn't in serving to survive but rather producing what to be served. Entrepreneurship; though remains the weakest agenda on the mind of several African countries can forever be seen as the backbone of every national development.




And that's where Entrepreneurship plays in.

Of Criminality and Cheiftancy: The Rise and Rise of Land-Guardism.

In the beginning of human history, (from a Christian perspective), God created the earth ; man thereafter and made a liberal declaration that man should "go and have dominion over the earth". This dominion, from a legal spectacle, included the right to live on and own the very earth he (man) was crafted on.




The "Adamic principle" of dominion and land entitlement later transmogrified into the " "Feudal Priciple" where the rich and powerful had the entitlemants to the lands.




This means that the early 15th centuries where the classist era were land entitlements were attributed and apportioned to the elite few.




The the 18th and 19th Centuries changed the cause of land entitlement entitlement when chieftancy emerged.It was in this wake that our beloved country, Ghana, started to recent times, aligning prestige to Chiefs of clans and ethnic groups.




"Custodians of the Land", they are often termed in the cheiftancy parlance. Authorities they are and remain on matters of land ownership. Ghana's legislative body have made strides in churning out logical legislative stipulations which espouse on who the powers of land ownership is vested on - The Traditional Chiefs.




Interestingly enough, never a day passes by , that I don't get to witness or read the sheeer monstrousities taking place all over regional capitals in the name of " Land Guardism". Could it be that Cheiftancy and all its powersp; they traditional or legislative is, with a sense of impunty, obstructing the free will of the poor widow in Afienye to at least own for herself and family of eight a piece of land? I believe it isn't. The problem lies with the "Macho Men" who in the name of chieftancy authority scare land owners away frm their lands with cutlasses, machettes and weapons of mortal destruction in the pretext of protectng stool lands.




Go check out hte records at the Ministry in charge of Cheiftancy and Culture; go check out breaking nws stories of innocent Ghanaians lynched to death over land disputes; in fact you may want to see the sheer fear in the eyes of prospective land owners then you will find out how brutal and inhumane the presence and domination of criminal gangs who pose as languards are, not leaving the negative impression rendered on Cheiftancy and Landownership in Ghana.




If possesing a land through legal means was just by Cheiftancy legislations; if the basis on which stool lands were and are the preserved is by the lawand nothing but the law, what then happened to land entitlement disputes, what happened to land guardism and its accomplices?




The picture is quiet clear for all to see.

AN OPINION ON THE MENTAL FITNESS IN GHANA

A psychologist based at the Accra Psychiatry Hospital once revealed that nine out of ten Ghanaians had a mental challenge. Dr Akwesi Osei's revelation debunks the claim that walking down the streets naked and unkempt is the only manifestation and definition of madness.

All Ghanaians suffer one mental illness from another.

Mental fitness, here in Ghana, is arguably a debative topic to probe into. But records show that the daill stresses and pressures on the average Ghanaian continue to reduce the tenacity of the mental faculty. Not a dawn moment in the dailies reveals cases of suicide and homicide in communities here in Ghana.

A deserted mentallychallenged woman.

Stress, if assessed investigatively shows that the nature of the Ghanaian job market, the high demands from education, the unending efforts in marriages, the changing scenes of cultures and the innundation with information are but examples of how prone the Ghanaian mind is to becoming mentally unstable.

Although the rate at which persons are losing their minds and chosing the streets keep rising steadily, the percentage of the number of persons mentaly unstable also remains relevant. It is surprising though how this phenomena stretching through every economic level in Ghanaians; the poor, middle class and upper class thus making it a national issue.

With students as young as 21 battling with deppression; with teenagers struggling with self identity, with formal and informal workers striving to make ends meet with the palsy salary paid them, the argument is clear that we all have a mental issue or another and that just seeing other mentally challenged accross the strreets should rather inform us on the question of what happens next should our mental inbalances deteriorate.

For now it is clear that mental health in Ghana cannot be assesed from the back ground of persons with severe mental challenges; but within us.

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AN OUTLOOK ON SLUMS AND HUMAN HEALTH.

 
It has been revealed that over 48 per cent of Ghanaians living in Accra, the capital city of Ghana can be located living in slums or better still, poorly laid out settlements. What this means is that many a Ghanaian either share a room with four or more people. What this also means is the fact that accommodation remains a drain to many- Squatting therefore remains a cold solace.

Overcrowding, lack of portable water, electricity and community development can be seen as the very description to a slum settlement. But what about the health implications?

Coastal Slum in Jamestown

A stroll down the inns of the coastal slums of Jamestown in Accra greets you with a breeze of sweaty pungent odour and filth from tightly non spacious rooms and greasy open gutters. For once you will tend to think you are on a dump site but a closer realisation startles you of your real location.

A well laid out settlement
 

The sheer prevalence in premature deaths of all natures and form; the clear scenes of teenage pregnancies; the usual adaptation to filth and the contagious culture of idleness are but some of the health implications slum settlements tend to have on settlers.

Although much effort is being made to quell the ravaging effect on the expansion of slums across the regional capitals especially within the coastal plains of Accra, it is veritably clear that this phenomena forever reveals the huge health gap between the many a poor and the little a rich.

Yes the battle for healthy living and complete fitness can be won through healthy eating and exercising. But what happens when the very roof one lies under; not to talk of his environment is short of a consciousness to human dignity.
Spacious housing alone reveals the health gap between the rich and poor in urban Ghana.

THE GHANAIAN MEAL : A QUEST TO GET FIT?

Countries and cultures around the world are characterised not only by their language or beliefs but also by the very meals they take in. These meals, as ingrained in the fibre and lifestyle of the people, either tend to benefit or harm the fitness of them.


Here in Ghana, the quest to get fit keeps getting stronger and wider. but what stands missing is the quest to "eat fit". The eating habits of the average Ghanaian, not to talk of the meal compositions, is but an example which contradicts with  the health culture of theirs.


The traditional meals of Ghanaians range from high cholestrol foods to less vegetarian meals. Meals eaten without the concern of time factors; be it in the morning, noon or night.
It is said that eating tasty meals isn't eating healthy meals and that how tasty a meal is doesn't assure  the attainment of a healthy body.


The case of  Ghanaian meals cant be an exception. Meals such as fufu and palmnut soup, Kenkey and fish, tuozafi and kokonte contain high calories and cholesterols which demand fat burning exercises to dissolve. unfortunately these meals find themselves on the menu table of night food vendors as leading menus. 

With the increasing rate of premature death especially within the urban sectors, it is quiet wary to know that meals and their ingredients play a massive role in these deaths. Yes it may be argued that the Ghanaian dish is for the Ghanaian tommy but we also need t know that some of these dishes and the quantities taken are suicidal!