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By Isaac Ato MENSAH
Accra- 25 February, 2019
This is the time when public intellectuals have to step up and speak up – down with public opinion; we are in crisis mode!
Occasionally, along with chatter on social media platforms, there is a query over the range and domain of some article posted on a particular platform (pardon my mathematics).
Questions arise whether such and such a topic is appropriate or could be discussed on a platform or not.
Surely, we all have experienced that before.
It is always good to set the ground rules for the platforms so that “brethren or sisteren” do not veer towards anarchy; it helps to keep the group focused.
But if we do not have a philosophical, logical and an ethical basis for our rattle prattle on social media platforms, then indeed ‘we are the wretched of the earth’.
Let us take my former secondary school as an example.
There is a lot of chest thumping about Legon PRESEC holding the record for the highest number of Members in the current Ghanaian Parliament, in nominal, ordinal or whatever algorithm – terms.
I am sure if such chatter comes up on a platform of Old Presecans (Odadees), no one will say the topic is not relevant to the platform.
But look at us – the filth all around us!
And see how the MPs are jumping around in the Jombolijo House – where is the LEADERSHIP?
‘Son of man, look and see.’
Oops, sorry to ask; they are led by a Presecan and no impertinence intended to the Right Honourable Speaker……and I hope that I got his august title correct……
So, is it appropriate to raise sanitation issues on an ICT social media platform?
This is not a trick question.
‘DO YOU NOT KNOW THAT SANITATION AND SANITATION ALONE IS OUR ONLY PRIORITY,’ my mentor will butt in. ‘It involves study, planning, execution, enforcement and monitoring across multiple disciplines.’
If we cannot solve our SANITATION problems, how can we THINK I.T.? How can any proper IT be done in a refuse dump; will the personnel survive, will the equipment work?
Our IT professionals cannot divorce themselves from our current shameful sanitation situation. They ought to assist in addressing it; this is certainly not a stretch.
The real purpose of education is to solve existential problems.
Schooling is completely different from education. An alphabet soup of degrees has long ceased to have relevance if it does not assist us in the fight against poverty, ignorance and disease; neither does a CV documenting positions in famous institutions.
‘The eye cannot see……
…….what the mind does not know.’
But what is a boy to do?
My mentor has diagnosed the problem already.
‘We should not say anything about THINKING…..when we do, we say foolish things. We should JUST KNOW how to do things and why; DON’T THINK, JUST KNOW and get it done; that’s all.’
KNOW HOW TO SOLVE YOUR SANITATION PROBLEMS and let us get it done for it costs us lives, yes – precious lives every single day.
Does this article qualify to be posted and hopefully discussed on a platform of I.T. professionals or teachers or sanitation inspectors or tax lawyers or civil servants?
You decide.
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