"IMPORTED BEGGARS"

Whoever said begging took only one form,which is the open request for money on
the streets of the capital,and largely by disabled or physically challenged persons might want to think again.
The condition however of some of these beggars;society's derelicts,is sometimes pathetic,to say the least.
Many times people dread approaching traffic intersections around Okponglo,Shiashie,Spanner,Opeibia and the likes,for fear or sometimes pity of being accosted by these beggars en route their workplaces and homes.One sometimes has to make million unplanned detours,in order to avoid them during the day.

Some blind,others visually impaired,some one-armed,some limbless,others restricted to the wheels,some dumb,others deaf,all escorted by either their ralations,or hired beggar workers,hover around vehicles when the traffic light turns red.

They plead with those on board the vehicles to bless their lives with some money,in a sorrowful and pitiable tone.Few times,I have seen people drop some coins into their calabashes and bowls quickly before the lights turn green.
These days,the begging has taken a foreign turn,just as we import virtually everything ranging from clothes to onions and tomatoes,we have as well "imported" beggars called "refugees".
From war-torn and troubled countries,they fled into our country to seek 'asylum' and restart their broken lives with their surviving families.

Each day at the Accra mall area and at circle,you are likely to be approached by the sometimes adorable children,(able-bodied) of these refugees for a simple reason,"give me money to buy food
and water",they ask.
And if you ever thought they were alone,try whisking them away,and their parents would hop from their hideout to confront you.
Apparently,the parents are behind the act.They sit quietly under the shed and look on while their children attempt to get monies from by-passers and drivers.

The other day,Winifred,a colleague in the newsroom and my good self were headed home from the office after Abu had dropped us off at the mall.
Characteristic of (spanner junction) every evening,there was thickening crowd of people waiting to get aboard limited and rarely approaching troskis.

Among the crowd were sachet water vendors,recharge card vendors,the barbecue guy,workers who had closed from work,the bag snatchers,people returning home from the mall,and the pick-pockets.
[As we stood by,this young niger-ian girl walks up to us,and in local Twi language says,"bra
mepawots3w ma me Sika ntor nsuo wai"....]

There,I stood looking all surprised.The young girl could speak Twi,meaning she and her parents may have been living in Ghana for quite some time.[Winifred is as shockprised as I am.]
[Some small Drama unfolds minutes after,when a man comes yelling at the girl.He tells her to go inform her parents hiding under the tree,to get a 'life' and get their hands onto some business,the least,selling pure water,better than the embarrassing routine of street begging].

[The young girl gets all worked up and tells the man right in the face also in Twi "m3nka saa s3m no ntser3 me kraa...x2"].This Drew people's attention to where we stood.
[She rolls her eyes at the man,sucks her teeth and walks on to another 'client'.]
I was shell shocked and dumbfounded,so was Winnie and a few people around too.This girl could speak Twi like she was born in Ashanti.

But upon careful thought,It dawned on me that what the man told the girl was not far from right.p
These people have been living here for a very long time,and have as well been begging for a long time.
Could they not have got themselves employed?Could they not have perhaps bought what we call "ice chest",a few bags sachet water,some ice cubes and stationed it where their children do the begging, for sale?

Would they not have raised a little more coins to open a better business venture?
Some people argue that government's directive against foreign individuals doing petty buying and selling (retailing) in Ghana is what is keeping them idle.But for me,that would have been hundred times an alternative to this embarrassing begging routine.
Komla Adom-GIJ

ANY HOPE OR FUTURE FOR CHORKOR-CHEMUENAA??

Few meters away from the last stop at Chemuenaa,a fishing community in chorkor,it was evident that sanitation conditions around here was on the low.But the gentle breeze that greeted us aboard the twenty year-old rickety Troski,compensated for the situation.

How serious the community folk took fishing and fish-mongering was overwhelming.We could remotely smell stale fish odour from where we were seated,the next lane behind the "mate".

Jemima had to conduct some interviews for a project she was working on,but could not speak Ga,which is the local language of the people.So I escorted her to assist her do the interviews,since I could put a few ga words together to make a complete thought better than she could.

It was Wednesday afternoon,approaching the sea shore,there were many children and adults doing any,two or all of swimming,fishing,crab-hunting,defecating,washing and playing football,synonymous with holiday beach scenes.

A few steps away from the shore,up a hill were wooden structures which served as abode for the fisher folks and their dependents.Tired parents laid on benches while their children played in the sea.
Jemima is shocked by what she sees.Children as young as four year olds are busily swimming and hunting crabs and fish.But I tell her it's normal in areas like these,speaking from experiences I had had growing up in Labadi.

Sowah is seen keenly observing a phenomenon while about fifteen meters into the sea away from the shore. Kotey,his five year old younger brother was playing with about eight fishes his brother had caught with his hook and line in a blue plastic bowl.Sowah was watching closely to see if his bait had caught a fish.

[Boy,boy,Jemima calls out to Kotey who comes to tell us that Sowah was actually fishing.] We told him we were explorers who wanted to know how the fishing experience was,and life at the sea shore.

[Sowah smiles at us and begins to speak with us.He is a class five pupil whose English speaking ability was not as terrible as the few guys we spoke to earlier.He tells us he comes occasionally to catch fish with his hook and line after school for use in the kitchen for food.]

[He is enthused about the numbers he had caught that day.He offers to teach us how but Jemima would not even go close to the sea.]
During the time of our conversation with Sowah,I noticed their parents were watching with keen interest from a distance,perhaps threatened by our presence.

[Alex is a seventeen year old boy who quit school while in class four.]He had to drop out to help his father fish and his mother monger the fish his father harvested.
Alex and his family are able to make 400 cedis on a good day from fish sales.
It appears Alex is a local champion here,[all the kids gather around us,while we are speaking with him.]

Asked whether he would like to go back to school,he responded in the negative.He wants to be a "fisherman"in future.
Francis is fifteen,and also a crew member of the young fishing clique here.For him,aside fishing,he would like to be a mason or a drivers' mate.He has not been to the classroom before and holds no ambition for schooling.

Though pathetic,these children,male and female find ways to entertain themselves in this community.They are excited about playing football among themselves and swimming.

More worrying was the conditions around the shore.[Just about a yard away from the shore,young and Older men are seen comfortably defecating along the sea.They are unfazed by our constant spying and would not even cover their "valuables".]

As the sea water occasionally waved towards the shore,it washed into it all the excreta the area folk left along the shore.
[Heaps of refuse stand in front of the wooden structures on a hill,while liquid waste drains from the heap into the sea.]

[We see some stray pigs having a good bathe as well together with the children.Close to the long heaps of refuse are half-destroyed pig Stys from which dark liquid and solid waste are seen trickling slowly into the sea.]

The challenges of those living here at chemuenaa are a multiplicity of issues.Mr. Mensah just returned from easing himself at the shore,and [tells us there is no public toilet facility around here,so whenever those living here felt like attending nature's call,the closest is the shore.]
[He doesn't find anything strange about it,partly because it has become their way of life.]

According to him,they have petitioned the assemblyman of the area and the DCE to construct a toilet facility here,but to no avail,leaving them with no other option.
While walking ahead still along the shore,Jemima lost the sole of her high heels,we called Nii to help us locate a provision shop,where she bought a pair of "aka me last" flip flop,and decided that we had had enough of the tour.

Meandering through the crevices and corners corners,we made for the roadside.
We left chorkor chemuenaa with a lot of emotions.Life has not been as easy for people living here like it has for some of us in the cleaner,more planned settlements,with if not all,a large chunk of social amenities at our disposal.

Education for instance is more of a luxury for people here than a necessity in the face of growing advancement in technology.
All we could do was to lament what the
future looks like for the children here,and what the future of the community itself is ????????..............
Komla Adom-GIJ- 19/02/14

kingsleykomla@gmail.com
www.kingsleykomla.blogspot.com

MASTERS "AKWAABA"-GIJ BEGINS POSTGRADUATE PROGRAMMES

For over fifty years since the establishment of the Ghana Institute of Journalism,different natural phases of progression have been witnessed.
Beginning as a diploma-awarding institute,the communication school has matured to become autonomous in awarding its own degrees in communication studies.

Despite this,students who graduate from the school of journalism,pursue their post-graduate studies at the University of Ghana or other universities outside of the country.

This in part, was because the institute did not offer masters programmes.The specialized school for communication studies has now moved a phase higher in its quest to achieve communication excellence by introducing four masters programmes ; M.A. Journalism,M.A. Public relations,M.A. Media management,M.A. Development communication,to among other things,provide a wide-ranging training,eduction,in-depth knowledge and aptitude to pursue a successful and impactful career in media circles.

Mr. David Newton,Rector of the institute,in his address at the launch of the school of graduate studies and research,on the institute's premises on Wednesday,stated that one of the underlying factors why the institute pushed beyond its limits to introduce the masters programmes was to reduce the financial burden on government of Ghana,corporate organizations and individuals to educate such professionals outside the shores of Ghana at huge costs.

Professor Clifford Nii Boye Tagoe,chairman of the National Council for Tertiary Education (NCTE),lauded the move by the school,while stressing the importance of media ethics to the communication industry;a common course that runs through all four masters programmes.

This he added, goes to show that with the rapid development of the media in Ghana,social media,blogging and the like,there still is the need to uphold strict ethical standards in the profession.

He also reiterated the absolute significance of research in the field of journalism,adding, that it is a very important aspect of the entire knowledge acquisition process,which helps the individual become a well-rounded person on the job.
He encouraged the institute to continue the good works and in the future introduce doctoral programmes,as soon as it is practically possible.

Deputy minister of education, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa speaking at the launch,expressed his ministry's excitement at the school's ability to have stayed glued to its mission and focus over the years,without straying off its core mandate,in the face of growing concerns over the wholesale pursuance of all manner of courses in tertiary schools,leaving individuals without any exact 

specialization.

He commended the school for its important role in training individuals in journalism and public relations,who are doing absolutely amazing on the field.

Adding his voice to the calls for measures to check the dolarisation of the economy,the deputy minister charged the institute and all other tertiary institutions to abide by government's directive binding all Ghanaian enterprises to collect fees in Ghana cedis which is the legal tender for transacting businesses in the country.

The masters programmes are going to span a period of twelve months,and are only going to be offered candidates who may have had a minimum of Second Class Lower honors from the institute or any other reputable university.

Komla Adom-GIJ 12/02/14
kingsleykomla@gmail.com
www.kingsleykomla.blogspot.com

SCRAP "MISS COMMUNICATOR PAGEANT”-

thinking from my  bedside……………….

When we talk beauty pageants, what immediately comes to mind is "controversy”. These contests over the decades worldwide have been fraught with a myriad of controversies, ranging from drug use allegations againstwinners, to "sex-for-crown" conspiracies as well as default in promisefulfilment to winners on the part of organizers.

A lot of media coverage has been given to some of these controversies in Ghanarecently, especially those that have to do with winners and other contestants, tothe detriment of issues arising on the part of organizers.

Though organizers of such ventures preach positive about the aims and objectives of these pageants, and promise mouth-watering prizes plus incentives for winners and runners up, it becomes another long tale and thug-of -war when it's their turn to fulfil these promises, which sometimes in themselves are too good to be true.

When this happens, who tells the stories of these girls, who put in their all to win such pageants? An attempt to case the 2013 miss communicator beautypageant of the Ghana Institute of Journalism is just one of the many instances of injustice against innocent enterprising young girls and it will paint a clearer and better picture on the whole discussion.

CALL FOR ENTRIES

The women's commission of the Students Representative Council (SRC),traditionally is known to be the brainchild of this whole endeavour.

​
While students get into the Institute to pursue their career paths and dreams in the fields of journalism and public relations, the commission invites and persuades girls to participate in the pageant by purchasing some forms and undergoing what they call "rigorous" audition sessions to get a shortlist of ten girls who would compete among each other for the crown.

​
The 2013 edition was no different, the commission headed by Miss Freda Dedzie, under the Raymond Yeldidong Bayor-led SRC, organized the contest allowing bold and confident girls to participate at a cost.

Apparently, the commission used a bunch of really cool prizes as a bait to convince otherwise uninterested girls of the institute to jump on board. Notable

 of which included; a car prize, cash of thousand cedis,a smart phone from LG and woodin cloth pieces for some months, for the winner, while two runners up were to get some cash prizes as well as 

clothing from woodin.

These were the motivation of Miss Wendy Assor and nine other girls who participated in the time-wasting and not-too-relevant contest.

PAGEANT THEME

The theme for the pageant was a phenomenal one. It centred primarily on the need to create and increase public awareness of the now common contributor to the sky-rocketing maternal mortality cases in the country; urogenital and obstetric fistula.

Many women due to a number of factors lose their lives to fistulas resulting from delayed and prolonged labour, premature pregnancies and forced deliveries as a consequence, and the like.

This condition has led to the death of many women and has left many more helpless-uncontrolled passing of urine and human waste due to the holes called fistulas created in their repro and urinary 

tracts.

The need for a lead voice who could champion the education drive and the awareness campaign was to be searched, from the competition.

SPONSORSHIP AND FINANCING

Well, the commission made a lot of noise about the whole pageant, publicityand advertisements were all over the place, which presupposed that there was a lot of cash to spend on the event, aside the quota doled out by the SRC.

The plush venue for the finale, the headline artistes billed to pass through and the big name event hostess said it all.
Among the most announced sponsors, was headline sponsor woodin, accordingto the commission, which was to clothe the ladies especially the winner and runners up.

THE SEARCH FOR THAT VOICE (FINALE)

After long weeks of grooming a shortlist of ten ladies for the grande show, andhaving to do extensive research on the whole fistula condition for presentation on the D-day, the contest came off at La Palm Royal Beach Hotel.Despite the

late start of the show, which is a regular feature at many events in Ghanaanyway, it was altogether a good one. Individual presentations by the girls were amazing as well as their talent show and the fashion segment.

The biggest moment of the night came when out of a further shortlist of fiveladies; Miss Wendy Sika Assor was crowned Miss Communicator 2013, by a very capable panel. That voice to lead the charge had been crowned.

Her message was clear and simple. She was going to embark on a massive educational and awareness campaign on obstetric fistula.

AFTERMATH (WHERE ARE THE PRIZES?)

​
Many months on after being crowned, I ask, where are the car prize, cash and the clothing from sponsor woodin?
The women's commissioner, the main protagonist in the whole pageant has remained tight-lipped on questions about all the prizes her outfit promised the winner and runners up of the pageant.

Not too sure if there has been a calculated attempt at the commission to embezzle funds which ordinarily were to have gone into awarding the top threecontestants, but it appears the case since 

there has been no communication from Miss Freda Dedzie, the women's commissioner under whose leadership the pageant was organized.

As a result, all the laudable projects, Miss Wendy Assor outlined to be undertaken during her reign have all hit a snag. The Educational drive, theawareness campaign, the commercials, the fund-raising, the hospital visits and donations among others have remained mere thoughts and aspirations.

Numerous attempts by Miss Wendy Assor to get the commission to respond to these concerns have yielded very little results.
Now that her reign is almost over, and surely a new queen will be crowned through another controversy-fraught organized pageant, the questions beg to be asked;

"Who will speak for Miss Assor and many other girls who have been deceived by the commission into participating in a fruitless venture like the miss communicator beauty pageant?"

"Who will make the organizers pay for persuading these girls at the expense of their books, 

efforts and resources into partaking in this discourse?"

PAGEANT IS IRRELEVANT

For all the noise that has been made about this pageant in the past; I believe it is not a worthwhile course for any lady of the Institute to be partaker of.

So long as organizers continue to be dishonest, and sponsors show such high levels of unprofessionalism, there should be a total scrapping of the contest.

Obviously without resources, the queens would be unable to carry out any meaningful project, considering the roles of the miss communicator is also not explicitly defined.

Fundamental doubts however have been cast on the credibility of the institute's pageant in the past, and this does not seem to be a perception that will be erased any time soon. This has created a negative impression among the studentship that Sponsors of the pageant are unreliable.

Until such a time when there is a clear realization of the need and role of a Miss Communicator in the institute, the pageant will remain a mere waste of time, and money.
Almost all pageants the world over have a purpose, but I dare say, that, Miss Communicator Pageant has no purpose, meanwhile I would advise miss Wendy Assor to take serious action against Freda Dedzie and her commission, while discouraging all ladies of the institute from participating in this directionless venture called the Miss Communicator Pageant, now called the Face of GIJ pageant.

Komla Adom.......GIJ

YOUNG AUTHOR DELIVERS AGAIN
A vessel was on Saturday,February 1, chosen at the conference hall of the Pentecost University College (PUC),when 21 year old student of the university of Ghana and the Ghana Institute of journalism,Sophia Mamle Ameudah,launched only her second Christian book after the one she authored as an 18 year old,"encountering God in a special way".
Recounting her experiences during the writing of the book,she charged young individuals to aspire to greater heights without allowing their present circumstances to hinder them in their quest to achieving greatness.
The book titled,"the Chosen Vessel"is a book for all young people especially Christians who do not believe they have anything to offer in the vineyard of The Lord,an impression she seeks to erase with the production of the book.
Speaking to this writer in an interview on the sidelines of the launch,Ms Sophia said she was inspired by true life experiences,which pushed her to write this book.
She admonished the youth to look within themselves to discover their abilities and capabilities as well as talents and use them to better their own lives,the church,and the nation as a whole.
Chairman at the ceremony,added his voice to calls by the author,when he intimated that,it was important everyone identified their purpose in life,and worked to fulfill it.
He also decried the alarming rate at which the young 'Christians 'were backsliding in the church and appealed to individuals to emulate the shinning example of 21-year old Sophia.
Dr. Daniel Osei also donated an amount of three thousand Ghana cedis to support Ms Sophia at the launch.
The ceremony was attended by friends,family members,her school mates and other well wishers.
So after first "encountering God in a special way",she is now "the chosen vessel"..................congratulations
Kingsley Komla Adom
kingsleykomla@gmail.com
1st February,2014.
www.kingsleykomla.blogspot.com