Isaac Ato Mensah (Page 14)

By Isaac Ato MENSAH Accra – 15 June, 2019 It is simply beautiful when a musical arrangement is such that at a point the voice is muted, the instruments take over, and travels on its own course. This allows the singer to also take in the music – and reflect. That is the feeling we have today when we reflect on trending news. However, words of wisdom are still spoken from Africa to the whole world. Such eloquent messages resonate with all reflective individuals and engender hope that all is not lost. For Africans, these orations should encourage us to retrieve and understand our placeRead More →

By Isaac Ato MENSAH Accra – 10 June, 2019 POTROG’s assertion of 30 percent women representation in his cabinet and their role in politics has led to uncomplimentary remarks; he is in the midst of a firestorm. Representation is a serious global problem, and societies that understand the lost cultural and social capital in underrepresentation will attempt to methodically correct their mistakes and do the right thing. One way of curing underrepresentation is to let data analysis direct us towards certain targets. In that regard, the Ghana Population and Housing Census is a useful guide. Speaking of women’s representation – fair representation generally – theRead More →

By Isaac Ato MENSAH Koforidua – 7 June, 2019 The eleven girls from Methodist Girls Secondary School (MEGHIS), Mamfe-Akwapim, who won this year’s robotics Game competition in the USA have emphasized the need for regular learning to ensure success. There are seven competitions/events at the Robofest including Game, Roboarts, Roboparade, Exhibition and BottleSumo. The MEGHIS students came first in Game, a contest designed to “Accomplish robotics missions using fully autonomous robots. Robofest Game especially puts math skills to the test,” read a statement on robofest.net. Teams compete at three levels; junior (grades 5-8), senior (grades 9-12), and college. At the Kotoka Airport in Accra onRead More →

By Isaac Ato MENSAH Koforidua – 5 June, 2019 The letter written by Dr Eric Yeboah, Secretary of the Ghana Beyond Aid (GBA) Committee to Richmond Bansah, the alleged designer of the cover pages of their Charter and Strategy Document, has reached the public domain. The letter reveals a lot about how this nation is being governed. It was problematic to hear in the news that a letter had been written to Richmond Bansah – in person – to respond to queries and apologise. But discovering the letter itself has been even more shocking. If the purported letter is fake, we have not heard aRead More →

By Isaac Ato MENSAH Koforidua – 3 June, 2019 Parliamentary business is properly referred to as “public business”; it goes into the public record. It reflects how the nation thinks. Indeed, a Member can raise the subject of this article for discussion when he takes leave from the Right Honourable Speaker. Therefore when our Speaker does not observe protocol, there are serious questions to be asked. Last week, when tributes where being paid in Parliament to the late Dr Kwabena Adjei, a former MP, this is what Mr Speaker said as broadcast on the midday news of Adom FM 106.3 MHz, Accra on 31st May,Read More →

By Isaac Ato MENSAH Accra – 31 May, 2019 GIMPA – Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration in the recent past has been touted a lot in Ghanaian circles. But those who have seen better days and much wider life exposure have always been much more restrained and circumspect in their acclaim. On a rainy Wednesday afternoon, during the African Curriculum Association conference at GIMPA, Accra, I decided to put some of GIMPA’s much publicised credentials to the test. Within the main conference venue (GIMPA Executive Conference Centre or GECC), I could not get food to buy at midday because the food was forRead More →

By Isaac Ato MENSAH Accra – 29 May, 2019 POTROG’s decision to direct the Ghana Black Stars’ manager to recall goal scorer Asamoah Gyan back into the national team is ill-advised and shows a nation in a tailspin. POTROG as an attorney must surely know that you cannot place something on nothing; things must be done properly in accordance with the rules and appropriate protocols. When his attorney-general advised him to dissolve the Ghana Football Association (GFA) he went ahead until FIFA stopped him. Now the nation is embarrassed and saddled with a confused Normalization Committee! Even if we win the Africa Cup and theRead More →

By Isaac Ato MENSAH Accra – 27 May, 2019 Eric Kwakye Darfour, Ghana’s Eastern Regional Minister (RM) has let the country and himself down badly. In the current electricity bill troubles in the Odumase Krobo area, he has deliberately engaged in ethnic stereotyping. It is dangerous and completely unnecessary. We shall not repeat his words here. The incompetent Adom FM journalists or media team who interviewed him also did not ask him to refrain from using his inflammatory words. (You may please search the Twi audio story filed on 23 May, 2019 by Adomonline.com/dorcas abedu-kennedy). Then an equally incompetent Daily Guide yet again uses thoseRead More →

By Isaac Ato MENSAH Accra – 24 May, 2019 It is with heavy emotions that we heard of conclusion of investigations into the Ghana Banking scandal and the start of formal prosecutions. “People who are supposed to be jailed should be jailed,” said a work colleague as we discussed those allegedly involved, monies lost and shared experiences. It is sad that some of the persons to be prosecuted have at the same time lost monies as shareholders and directors. Many employees have done their owners and directors in by non-adherence to integrity rules. The Daily Graphic newspaper of Accra reports in its 23 May, 2019Read More →

By Isaac Ato MENSAH/Joan AGYEKUM-NSOWAH Accra – 20 May, 2019 “Bhim” and “Paahpaah” started as ad libs; they mean nothing except that they fetch money and fame for Stonebwoy and Shatta Wale respectively. The two musicians who both take inspiration from Reggae and Jamaican culture have themed their messages to identify with the struggles of the youth. Even though reggae became more prominent after Ghana’s independence, its core message emphasizes struggles against oppression, initially against White colonialists and then against fellow Black politriKcians, who deposed White oppressors only to perpetuate similar tactics. That knowledge – or rather consciousness – which does not require much formalRead More →