The Headphone Fever

For some time now, the invisible lens of the eye man captures a particular scene almost everywhere in the streets, public places and even on campuses, the use of headphones.

To the best of my knowledge, headphones are private sound output devices normally used for studio works. They come in different brands, sizes, colours and capacity for specific purposes, but it isn’t so in this our modern era. Headphones now play a major role in the fashion world of the youth of today. Almost every ‘guy’ you meet have headphone covering the ear either connected to portable music players or as necklace around the neck, and for a moment, I thought Ghanaian youth are all now turning into disc jockeys (DJs).

                                

There are unpleasant situations where some culprits narrowly escape being knocked down by vehicles just because they have no ears to hear the horns of vehicles approaching them. I leant this habit originated from the hip hop world, where you see most rap artiste with headphones around their neck. My problem is not about its usage but rather its effect on hearing.

Hearing loss is related to the volume and duration of sound because the human ear is one of the most delicate sense organs. There is much concern about the effect of iPods and other MP3 players. With these devices, music is blared directly into the ears via head/earphone, the volume is often high, and the devices hold thousands of songs that are listened to for long periods.

 Hearing specialists are reporting seeing teens with signs of noise-induced hearing loss that would not be expected until middle age. (Spencer J., 2006). Researchers studying cassette players and portable compact disc players have found an increased risk of hearing loss among people who listen to loud music through headphones for extended periods. In one well-cited study, recommendations were made to limit the use of portable CD players to one hour per day at 60% of maximum volume (Fligor, 2004). If you listen for more than one hour, the volume should be turned down below 60%. Maximum sound levels of CD players and iPods are estimated to be between 100 and 115 decibels. I cannot advise people not to use it but will rather suggest these few safety precautions:

• At home or in a quiet place (not in the street), set the volume low so that you can still hear sound around you.  
• When you go into the street DO NOT MAKE IT LOUDER, the noisy environment and the loud volume will worsen the situation. Alternatively, buy noise reduction earphones that will block out the street noise so you do not have to turn up the volume to hear the music comfortably.
• Finally, avoid the habit of using headphone for personal entertainment if you can, instead use loud speakers.

If you loose your hearing just for the love of one song, how on earth are you going to enjoy the millions of other nice music which are yet to come? Stay safe and keep your ears healthy.

‘Sakawa’ on Social Networks

If you were thinking as I was; ‘social networks are sakawa (internet fraud) free’, then you got it all wrong. Internet fraud has now taking a different turn and is operating through the various social networks.

These fraudsters disguise themselves as female refugees hungry for love and affection. They send dating proposals to males on the same network. They further ask for email address and once you grant their request; they send well-fabricated stories and pictures into your mails narrating their poor refugee life. I bet you, many men fall for their tricks. Let me share with you few samples of the messages from one of these intelligent psychopaths. Firstly, they tell you the false pathetic stories of how they became orphans and refugee in a camp because of war in their country. Once you respond or reply to it, these are likely the sort of mails you will be receiving subsequently (names and other personal information withheld):

Dearest Sweet Heart.
How you are today together with your health which is the most important thing to me hope you are fine? I am more than happy in your reply to my mail. When I read your mail today is give me full joy and happiness .thanks you once again I will like to see you face to face soonest .My love, I will like to be part of your life .Mine is a little bit cool over here in Dakar Senegal.
In this refugee camp, we are only allowed to go out only two times in a week. It’s just like one staying in the prison and I hope by God’s grace I will come out here soon.
I don't have any relatives now whom I can go to all my relatives ran away in the middle of the war the only person I have now is Rev Father ******* who is the pastor of the (Christ for all Churches) here in the refugee camp, he has been very nice to me since I came here but I am not living with him, rather, I am leaving in the women's hostel because the refugees have two hostels one for men the other for women.
The Pastors Tel number is (+22177- ## - ## - ###) I will be waiting for your call by 2: pm my own time here today; if you call and tell him that you want to speak with me he will send for me in the hostel.
As a refugee here I don't have any right or privilege to anything be it money or whatever because it is against the law of this country.
I want to go back to my studies because I only attended my first year before the tragic incident that lead to my being in this situation now took place. Please listen to this have my late father's statement of account and death certificate are here with me which I will send to you latter, because when he was alive he deposited some amount of money in a leading bank in Europe which he used my name as the next of kin, the amount in question is $3.7M(Three Million seven Hundred Thousand Dollars)
 So I will like you to help me transfer this money to your account and from it you can send some money for me to get my traveling documents and air ticket to come over to meet with you. I kept this secret to people in the refugee camp here; the only person that knows about it is the Reverend because he is like a father to me.
So in the light of above I will like you to keep it to yourself and don't tell it to anyone for I am afraid of losing my life and the money if people get to know about it.
Remember I am giving you all this information due to the trust I deposed on you. I like honest and understanding people, truthful and a man of vision, truth and hardworking. My favourite language is English but our language is French but I speak English very fluently. Meanwhile I will like you to call me like I said I have lot to tell you. Have a nice day and think about me.
Waiting to hear from you soonest.

Your love
******.

Hello My Dearest!
I thank you ones again for your mail to me. I will also like to see you face to face after the transfer of the money into your account and I will use this opportunity to let you know that GOD has chosen you amongst other men in this whole wide world to help me on this planet (earth) it’s now left for you and God who directed you to me.
Please I have not told anyone except you about the existence of this money and I will like you to please keep it secret to other people because since it is (MONEY) all eyes will be on it. Remember I trust you with all my heart that is why I am giving you all this information!

I have informed the bank in United Kingdom about my plans to claim this money and the only thing they told me is to look for a foreign partner who will stand on my behalf due to my age, refugee status and the laws of this country against refugees like me.
I will give you 25% of the total money for helping me and 5% for any expenses that may occur during the transaction and the remaining money will be managed by you in any business of your choice because I can't be able to manage such a huge amount of money, besides I want to go back to school to start my education again.
In this regard I will like you to contact the bank immediately with this information. Tell them that you are my foreign partner and that you want to know the possibilities of assisting me in transferring the ($3.7 Million US Dollars) deposited by my late father of which I am the next of  kin to your account in your country.

The contact information of the bank is as follows:

 (Information withheld)

As I told you before, this camp is just like a prison and my prayers are to move out from here as soon as possible. Please make sure that you contact the bank so that after the transfer you can send some money from that money for me to prepare my travelling documents to meet with you over there in your country please whenever you want to talk to me try and call the rev father's number that I gave you, tell him that you want to talk to me.
Waiting to hear from you as soon as you contact the bank today, please!

Yours forever,
********

  All they need is to lure you intelligently into investing your money, in the aim of retrieving that huge sum of money. Beware friend; they have something up their sleeves.   Do not entertain such messages, lest you fall prey to their tactics.

Maternal Deaths Declined in 2011

Kirsty Telfer (Projects Abroad)

by Kirsty Telfer (Projects Abroad) Central Region’s maternal deaths declined in 2011, Seventy- four maternal deaths were recorded as compared to Seventy-seven in 2010.

Maternal Mortality rates in Ghana continue to be a challenge for the Ghana Health Service and pose a real threat to social development in the country. Speaking at the 2011Central Region Health Services Performance Review Conference, the Regional Director of Health Services, Dr Samuel T. Kwashie said that ‘every maternal death from a preventable cause is unacceptable and must not be allowed to happen.’

The United Nationals Development Programme (UNDP) has raised concern about high rates of maternal mortality across the developing world, saying it is still unacceptably high. Progress is still well short of the 5.5 per cent annual decline needed to meet the Millennium Development Goal (MDG) target of reducing by three quarters the maternal mortality ratio by 2015.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) defines maternal mortality as the death of a woman while pregnant or within forty-two days of termination of pregnancy, irrespective of the duration and site of the pregnancy, from any cause related to or aggravated by the pregnancy or its management but not from accidental or incidental causes.

WHO estimates that around 500 women per 100,000 live births in Ghana die during delivery. In the Central Region, 74 maternal deaths were recorded in the year 2011, giving a maternal mortality ratio (MMR) of 116 deaths per 100,000 live births. Although this is a slight decrease from 2010, where the MMR was 165/100,000, one is a real threat to Ghana’s chance of achieving the MDG relating to maternal health and promoting high quality health care in the country.

The Central Region Health Service has associated itself with the Campaign on Accelerated Reduction of Maternal Mortality in Africa (CARMNA), which was launched in the region in November 2011 by Dr Ernestina Naadu Mills’. It calls on all 17 Metropolitan Municipal and District Assembly’s (MMDAs) to ensure they are committed to eliminating maternal mortality in the Central Region.

Dr Kwashie said he hoped the increase in supervised births would further ensure a decrease in maternal mortality. The number has significantly increased over the past three years and stands at 63.7 percent as of 2011. He also noted that additional health professionals are being posted to the region and this should help improve the health situation surrounding maternal mortality.

UNDP says most maternal deaths can, and should be avoided. Hemorrhage, sepsis, unsafe abortion, obstructed labour and hypertensive diseases of pregnancy cause more than 80 per cent of maternal deaths. Most of these deaths are preventable when there is access to adequate reproductive health services, equipment, supplies and skilled healthcare workers. UNDP notes that the majority of women in the developing world are now receiving antenatal care and skilled assistance during delivery.

The theme for the year under review was ‘Strengthening Human Resource for Health towards achieving the Millennium Development Goals.’ Concerns relating to staffing have been considerably diminished following the postings of a number of Doctors, Medical Assistants, Nurses, Midwifes etc. and numerous training programmes have been of immense benefit to the strengthening of the health care system.

Dr Kwashie pointed out that one only case of Measles was reported in 2011 and the number of Cholera patients was almost half of those recorded in 2010. The biggest threat to the health service continues to be malaria and was the highest reported medical condition at the Out- patient Departments throughout the region. However, positive steps have been taken to control the disease, which is a major threat to pregnant women and children under the age of five. At the end of 2011, the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF), United States of America Aid (USAID) and the Department for International Development (DFID) distributed 1,003, 100 Long Lasting Insecticide Treated Bed Nets (LLITNs) to the people of the Central region.

Dr Kwashie said the aim for 2012 should be focused on strengthening the health care systems to provide quality and accessible health care for the entire population of the Central Region, paying special attention to those living in the most deprived situations. He said health care programmes would be made available for those suffering from disabilities.

Journalists as “peacemakers” or “peace breakers” during election time

By Caleigh McLelland (Projects Abroad)

Violence and corruption often plague elections throughout the African continent, so as Ghana prepares to vote in both parliamentary and presidential elections this December, all eyes will be on the West African country to ensure that peaceful and fair elections ensue.

Central Regional Minister, Ama Benyiwa Doe, stated that this year’s elections will be a very trying moment for Ghana and she advised that people act peacefully and responsibly.

“I want to take advantage of this forum to advise that the youth of Central Region think twice and not take advantage of their youthfulness and misuse that for any kind of activity that will not help us,” Minister Doe said.

She added that “competition should be fair, so that by the time we come out of elections, Central Region, and for that matter, this country, should turn up as a winner.”

Last year, fifteen African countries held elections, many of which saw widespread fraud and violence including Kenya and the Democratic Republic of Congo. And Minister Doe believes that what journalists say or write plays an important role in whether or not elections turn out peacefully.

“Countries have gotten into problems by just the spoken word of journalists,” she stated.

The reason for this is because political parties often get offended when they are criticised. But Minister Doe believes that criticism can be beneficial.

“Criticisms are good,” she said. “And as long as we have criticisms which are scientifically based and constructive, there should be no problems.”

Unlike many African countries, the media of Ghana is one of the most free. In fact, chapter 12 of the Constitution of Ghana guarantees freedom and independence of the media, and according to Freedom House, an international non-governmental organisation (NGO) that researches freedom around the world, Ghana was one out of only four other Sub-Saharan countries whose media was ranked as “free.”

As important as it is for citizens to act peacefully and responsibly during election time, it is just as imperative that what journalists say and write is accurate as their information is what people look to when making the decision of who to vote for.

“Modern day slavery” still alive in Ghana

 By Caleigh McLelland (Projects Abroad)

Ghana’s Lake Volta is known as the world’s largest man-made lake. But what is almost unknown about the communities along Lake Volta is that human trafficking (child trafficking in particular) is flourishing.

Human trafficking is described by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) as “an act of recruiting, transporting, transferring, harbouring or receiving a person through a use of force, coercion, or other means, for the purpose of exploiting them.”

While women and children are typically trafficked internationally within Europe (for example, from Eastern European countries to Western European countries), human trafficking in Ghana is much more of an internal concern. While many children are abducted or sold involuntarily by their parents and are then trafficked to neighbouring countries, countless children are also trafficked internally taken from rural areas of Ghana to work in fishing communities along Lake Volta or into the larger cities to work as domestic helpers, beggars and even prostitutes.

Ghana’s Central Region is also a common area for human trafficking within the country.

According to the Palermo Protocol (a protocol adopted by the United Nations in 2000, which assists in combating trafficking in persons), human trafficking not only consists of  labour, but also horrific practices such as the removal of organs, trafficking for the purpose of “illicit international adoption and trafficking for early marriage and recruitment as child soldiers.”

Poverty and lack of decent education in many parts of the world are circumstances that continue to feed the human trafficking industry.

Since many parents in Ghana are unable to financially take care of their families, they believe that selling their children is the only option they have for a better life.

But what these parents do not know is that selling their children into a life of slavery is extremely dangerous. Many children do not survive and those that do often face difficult futures with psychological problems, substance abuse and continued prostitution.

Constitutional rights in Ghana include: the Right to Life, the Right to Personal Liberty, Rights of the Child, Women’s Rights, the Respect for Human Dignity and Protection from Slavery and Forced Labour. However, these rights are taken away from women and children once they fall victim to this appalling practice.

Educating parents and children about the risks of the human trafficking industry will be an important step in combating this horrific practice. Furthermore, although there are steps presently being taken to end human trafficking in Ghana (Ghana passed into law the Human Trafficking Act, Act 694 of 2005, and the Ghana Police Service has an Anti-Human Trafficking Unit), the biggest challenge will be education. If so many of the industry’s victims and their families are uneducated, how will they learn the dangers associated with such labour?

It will be up to the Ghanaian government to better protect trafficking victims and set harsher penalties for trafficking offenders. Continued help from the international community will also be necessary as Ghana continues to be a country of origin, transit and destination for trafficked women and children.

MOTOR ACCIDENTS CLAIM 247 LIVES IN C/R STATE

By Caleigh McLelland (Projects Abroad)

Using a mobile phone, not wearing a seatbelt and eating are all illegal activities to take part in while driving in Canada.

So, as a Canadian living in Ghana, being in a car that does not have working seatbelts, with a driver who takes no notice of traffic signs, it is not surprising that 2011 saw a rise in motor accidents and casualties associated with motor accidents in Ghana's Central Region.

In 2011, the Central Region alone had a total of 1120 reported accidents; 246 of those occurring between January and April.

Last year not only ended with the most accidents in over two decades but also saw the highest number of persons killed due to motor accidents; a total of 247.

According to the National Road Safety Commission, accidents are happening primarily because of pedestrians, followed by speeding, fatigue and wrongful overtaking.

Although listed as the fastest growing world economy of 2011, Ghana's traffic regulations are lacking, which is undoubtedly putting peoples' safety at risk and therefore hindering the country from prospering even further.

In the May 3 - 15, 2011 Issue of Central Press, Axel Patsch outlined many of the reasons behind the increase in motor accidents during the first quarter of 2011. He explained that, although road maintenance is important in tackling the issue at hand, educating the public about road safety would likely show the best results. Thankfully, there is a current platform that shares the same thought and is taking action.

During the launch of the Disaster and Road Safety Foundation, Dasebere Kwebu Ewusi VII, Chairman for the Central Regional Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Risk Management, stated that, “each year, disasters not only deprive millions of people of food security, access to clean drinking water and social services but also reverse past development gains and impedes further socio-economic programs.”

He believes, however, that the government cannot fix this growing issue alone.

“The role I can play to support government,” he said, “is to raise funds to mitigate the plight of disaster victims.”

The Central Regional Platform's job, according to Dasebere Kwebu Ewusi VII, is to “reduce excessive pressure on the government in providing First Aid to accident victims.”

And while some motor accidents aren't always simply avoided (for example, an animal could run in front of a car at night), many are. For this reason, the Central Regional Platform not only assists victims following an accident they also understand that taking measures to prevent motor accidents in the first place is what will save most lives.

According to Anokye Yeboah, Central Regional Coordinator of the Road Safety Commission, each year about 1,800 people lose their lives as a result of motor accidents in Ghana, and approximately 10,000 – 15,000 people are seriously injured. Given these statistics, it will be essential for the government to focus on improving road safety in order to save lives and keep the country moving forward.

“The Platform will be proactive by supporting Disaster Risk Reduction activities, such as public education on TV and radio,” Dasebere Kwebu Ewusi VII said. “We shall sponsor workshops for Road Safety Officers to acquire knowledge to intensify public education.”

Moving Journalism Forward

by Benjamin Price (Projects Abroad)

Mrs Nyomi (left) congratulates a student.

The Managing Director of Coastal Television, Mrs Nyomi, delivered a seminar talk to the graduating students of the Central Press College in Cape Coast.

The graduates were presented with a discussion entitled, ‘The Role of Female Journalists in Nation Building’. This talk was part of a series of seminars organised by the Central Press College for its students.

Introducing the guest speaker, the chief executive of the college, Mr Kwamina Bamfo-Agyei said:

“This is the batch [of students] that has many women participating, that is why we thought it wise to have a woman to be our guest speaker so that it can be a motivation to females in this media profession.”

The main focus of Mrs Nyomi’s presentation was the central role she believes female journalists have to play in the gradual development of Ghana as a nation. She stressed the importance of the way in which a newsworthy story is presented to the public and how this is key to the success of good print and broadcast journalism.

The timing of this speech delivered to the students was also an important factor as it was placed in the context of the upcoming elections later this year. Mrs Nyomi highlighted to the students that the education they were receiving in such a place as the Central Press College was equipping them with the required skills to practice a higher standard of journalism:

“With this kind of education that you have, you are going to make an impact wherever you find yourself.”

The concept of a more informed journalism was coupled the idea of being more innovative and creative while producing and presenting news stories. Mrs Nyomi called for a more colourful way of presenting the news, a style that is more Ghanaian in the form of its presentation, in contrast to the straight broadcast style adopted by many western media networks. Mrs Nyomi added:

“There is one radio station in Ghana that sometimes exaggerates, but I like it because they are telling stories. They tell it like we would tell a story to our children or among ourselves.”

Mrs Nyomi, lecturers and students at Central Press College

Mrs Nyomi concluded her speech by stressing the need for journalists in Ghana to make an impact and to ask the important questions that will provide the answers to many of the big issues in Republic of Ghana today. This point was explained in further detail in the context of politics. It was explained to the students that their level of education in the practice of journalism gave them the power to ask the burning questions of the day to the politicians and get the answers that would essentially create a greater sense of transparency and understanding in the politics of Ghana today. As a result, it is believed that freedom of the press will develop further, thus contributing to the wider concept of nation building.

Speaking on behalf of the students and members of the Campus Journalists’ Association, its President, Shaderik Boakye said:

“We should all try as much as possible to abide by all the rules and regulations given us and the code of ethics of the Ghana Journalist Association.”