MR K.B. QUANTSON
Story: Augustina Tawiah
When he was 12 years old, he was in charge of tidying up his father's bedroom every morning, but one day he noticed that the bottle containing his father's "bitters" (a locally brewed liqueur) was not at its regular place - behind the father’s wardrobe.
What most children would have done in such a situation was to ask their father about it or inform him about the sudden disappearance of the bottle. But this boy would not do that, he chose to investigate the whereabouts of the bottle among members of the household, who to him, constituted his principal ‘suspects’.
Using his intuition, he cleared his two aunties from his investigations, because they were staunch Christians, and so an alcoholic beverage would not be of any use to them. His father was also cleared, because, to him, the father could not steal his own drink.
The lot then fell on his uncle, who normally drank the bitters together with his father. And indeed, his hunch was rightly so as he eventually found the drink in his uncle's room. He picked it up and sent it to his father. Later, when his uncle got to know what had happened, he commended him and said, "Look here Kofi, we don’t want any bogus detective in this family."
Forty years down the line, this young ‘detective’ became the Commissioner of Police in charge of Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service. This little but interesting investigative work was how Mr Kofi Bentum Quantson, our personality for this week, got interested in detective work.
"When I got the position of Commissioner of Police in charge of CID, I told myself I have to be a good detective and not a bogus one to honour my uncle." Mr Quantson did not only become a detective, but he also distinguished himself in the field of investigations. That is why perhaps, he headed almost all the top secret services in this country. He is a former Director, Bureau of National Investigations (BNI), National Security Co-ordinator (1997-2001), Executive Secretary of the Narcotics Control Board, among others.
Interestingly, he said though he realised early in life that he had ‘detective qualities’, he did not know the exact future career to pursue.
In the company of his brother, Mr Quantson talked about his humble beginnings at Axim, in the Western Region, where he was born and bred, about 75 years ago.
He said due to the frequent transfers of his father from one place to another as a civil servant, he spent the early part of his life with his maternal grandmother, a God-fearing woman who made prayer the centre of her life. He said his grandmother impacted his life with her spirituality and such values as honesty, humility and an enterprising spirit.
Because his grandma was a farmer, he was introduced to farming early in life.
"I was only five years old then, so I did only petty chores such as collecting cassava sticks and twigs for lighting fire. I also carried small loads home."
But going to the farm was not all about work for him, he said. It was also fun as he used to chase lizards, and also learnt to appreciate nature.
"Through the sounds of birds, I was able to tell time, since we had no watch at that time." When he was seven years, he went to live with his paternal auntie, a baker.
"I sold bread every morning before I went to school. And because I didn’t want to be late for school on my return, I bathed and dress up in my school uniform before going to sell. I usually touted for business, 'paano wa ha' (meaning bread is available here)" on the streets of Axim to attract customers. In the evenings, however, he said he sold kerosene.
Mr Quantson said he never felt shy selling things, because he had no choice. “I just had to sell”. He also attended Sunday School regularly because failure to do so attracted punishment at school on the following day. Naughty as children could be, he said sometimes, he sneaked out of Sunday School to play, and recalled an occasion he did that and was caned the following day at school.
But the worse thing, however, was that a reverend minister who administered the punishment went further to inform his father, who whipped him again.
“And you know something, I thought it was unjust for the reverend minister to do that, and so I took an immediate dislike for him,” he confessed.
When Kofi moved in with his father and stepmum to Takoradi at age 13 , he had to go to the market every morning before going to school. As a result, he was always late for school and thus missed morning mental test, so "l was regularly lashed, because it was assumed that l had scored zero."
But despite the problems he faced in Takoradi, it was there that he had the opportunity to study in the evenings with electricity, instead of the lanterns he constantly used while in Axim. "And all the children in the area gathered on the compound we studied amidst chatting".
Surprisingly, with all his professional credentials, Mr Quantson did not attend any of the well-known secondary schools. He attended Clayborn College, Sekondi, an unassisted (private) secondary school as it was called in those days. He described the teaching in the school as rather awful, therefore, during school vacation, he used to compare his notes with his friends from the better schools and where he had any weaknesses, he asked for help. Even during school holidays, he would still go to the farm or sometimes fishing with his uncle.
After his senior Cambridge Examination, Mr Quantson trained as a teacher at Wesley College, Kumasi, where he taught in a number of schools before pursuing further studies at the University of Ghana, Legon. After the university education, he worked as a journalist at Ghanaian Times before joining the Special Branch of the Ghana Police Service.
Mr Quantson is married with children.
Thursday, November 12, 2009
A talented detective
Story: Augustina Tawiah
When he was 12 years old, he was in charge of tidying up his father's bedroom every morning, but one day he noticed that the bottle containing his father's "bitters" (a locally brewed liqueur) was not at its regular place - behind the father’s wardrobe.
What most children would have done in such a situation was to ask their father about it or inform him about the sudden disappearance of the bottle. But this boy would not do that, he chose to investigate the whereabouts of the bottle among members of the household, who to him, constituted his principal ‘suspects’.
Using his intuition, he cleared his two aunties from his investigations, because they were staunch Christians, and so an alcoholic beverage would not be of any use to them. His father was also cleared, because, to him, the father could not steal his own drink.
The lot then fell on his uncle, who normally drank the bitters together with his father. And indeed, his hunch was rightly so as he eventually found the drink in his uncle's room. He picked it up and sent it to his father. Later, when his uncle got to know what had happened, he commended him and said, "Look here Kofi, we don’t want any bogus detective in this family."
Forty years down the line, this young ‘detective’ became the Commissioner of Police in charge of Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service. This little but interesting investigative work was how Mr Kofi Bentum Quantson, our personality for this week, got interested in detective work.
"When I got the position of Commissioner of Police in charge of CID, I told myself I have to be a good detective and not a bogus one to honour my uncle." Mr Quantson did not only become a detective, but he also distinguished himself in the field of investigations. That is why perhaps, he headed almost all the top secret services in this country. He is a former Director, Bureau of National Investigations (BNI), National Security Co-ordinator (1997-2001), Executive Secretary of the Narcotics Control Board, among others.
Interestingly, he said though he realised early in life that he had ‘detective qualities’, he did not know the exact future career to pursue.
In the company of his brother, Mr Quantson talked about his humble beginnings at Axim, in the Western Region, where he was born and bred, about 75 years ago.
He said due to the frequent transfers of his father from one place to another as a civil servant, he spent the early part of his life with his maternal grandmother, a God-fearing woman who made prayer the centre of her life. He said his grandmother impacted his life with her spirituality and such values as honesty, humility and an enterprising spirit.
Because his grandma was a farmer, he was introduced to farming early in life.
"I was only five years old then, so I did only petty chores such as collecting cassava sticks and twigs for lighting fire. I also carried small loads home."
But going to the farm was not all about work for him, he said. It was also fun as he used to chase lizards, and also learnt to appreciate nature.
"Through the sounds of birds, I was able to tell time, since we had no watch at that time." When he was seven years, he went to live with his paternal auntie, a baker.
"I sold bread every morning before I went to school. And because I didn’t want to be late for school on my return, I bathed and dress up in my school uniform before going to sell. I usually touted for business, 'paano wa ha' (meaning bread is available here)" on the streets of Axim to attract customers. In the evenings, however, he said he sold kerosene.
Mr Quantson said he never felt shy selling things, because he had no choice. “I just had to sell”. He also attended Sunday School regularly because failure to do so attracted punishment at school on the following day. Naughty as children could be, he said sometimes, he sneaked out of Sunday School to play, and recalled an occasion he did that and was caned the following day at school.
But the worse thing, however, was that a reverend minister who administered the punishment went further to inform his father, who whipped him again.
“And you know something, I thought it was unjust for the reverend minister to do that, and so I took an immediate dislike for him,” he confessed.
When Kofi moved in with his father and stepmum to Takoradi at age 13 , he had to go to the market every morning before going to school. As a result, he was always late for school and thus missed morning mental test, so "l was regularly lashed, because it was assumed that l had scored zero."
But despite the problems he faced in Takoradi, it was there that he had the opportunity to study in the evenings with electricity, instead of the lanterns he constantly used while in Axim. "And all the children in the area gathered on the compound we studied amidst chatting".
Surprisingly, with all his professional credentials, Mr Quantson did not attend any of the well-known secondary schools. He attended Clayborn College, Sekondi, an unassisted (private) secondary school as it was called in those days. He described the teaching in the school as rather awful, therefore, during school vacation, he used to compare his notes with his friends from the better schools and where he had any weaknesses, he asked for help. Even during school holidays, he would still go to the farm or sometimes fishing with his uncle.
After his senior Cambridge Examination, Mr Quantson trained as a teacher at Wesley College, Kumasi, where he taught in a number of schools before pursuing further studies at the University of Ghana, Legon. After the university education, he worked as a journalist at Ghanaian Times before joining the Special Branch of the Ghana Police Service.
Mr Quantson is married with children.
When he was 12 years old, he was in charge of tidying up his father's bedroom every morning, but one day he noticed that the bottle containing his father's "bitters" (a locally brewed liqueur) was not at its regular place - behind the father’s wardrobe.
What most children would have done in such a situation was to ask their father about it or inform him about the sudden disappearance of the bottle. But this boy would not do that, he chose to investigate the whereabouts of the bottle among members of the household, who to him, constituted his principal ‘suspects’.
Using his intuition, he cleared his two aunties from his investigations, because they were staunch Christians, and so an alcoholic beverage would not be of any use to them. His father was also cleared, because, to him, the father could not steal his own drink.
The lot then fell on his uncle, who normally drank the bitters together with his father. And indeed, his hunch was rightly so as he eventually found the drink in his uncle's room. He picked it up and sent it to his father. Later, when his uncle got to know what had happened, he commended him and said, "Look here Kofi, we don’t want any bogus detective in this family."
Forty years down the line, this young ‘detective’ became the Commissioner of Police in charge of Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service. This little but interesting investigative work was how Mr Kofi Bentum Quantson, our personality for this week, got interested in detective work.
"When I got the position of Commissioner of Police in charge of CID, I told myself I have to be a good detective and not a bogus one to honour my uncle." Mr Quantson did not only become a detective, but he also distinguished himself in the field of investigations. That is why perhaps, he headed almost all the top secret services in this country. He is a former Director, Bureau of National Investigations (BNI), National Security Co-ordinator (1997-2001), Executive Secretary of the Narcotics Control Board, among others.
Interestingly, he said though he realised early in life that he had ‘detective qualities’, he did not know the exact future career to pursue.
In the company of his brother, Mr Quantson talked about his humble beginnings at Axim, in the Western Region, where he was born and bred, about 75 years ago.
He said due to the frequent transfers of his father from one place to another as a civil servant, he spent the early part of his life with his maternal grandmother, a God-fearing woman who made prayer the centre of her life. He said his grandmother impacted his life with her spirituality and such values as honesty, humility and an enterprising spirit.
Because his grandma was a farmer, he was introduced to farming early in life.
"I was only five years old then, so I did only petty chores such as collecting cassava sticks and twigs for lighting fire. I also carried small loads home."
But going to the farm was not all about work for him, he said. It was also fun as he used to chase lizards, and also learnt to appreciate nature.
"Through the sounds of birds, I was able to tell time, since we had no watch at that time." When he was seven years, he went to live with his paternal auntie, a baker.
"I sold bread every morning before I went to school. And because I didn’t want to be late for school on my return, I bathed and dress up in my school uniform before going to sell. I usually touted for business, 'paano wa ha' (meaning bread is available here)" on the streets of Axim to attract customers. In the evenings, however, he said he sold kerosene.
Mr Quantson said he never felt shy selling things, because he had no choice. “I just had to sell”. He also attended Sunday School regularly because failure to do so attracted punishment at school on the following day. Naughty as children could be, he said sometimes, he sneaked out of Sunday School to play, and recalled an occasion he did that and was caned the following day at school.
But the worse thing, however, was that a reverend minister who administered the punishment went further to inform his father, who whipped him again.
“And you know something, I thought it was unjust for the reverend minister to do that, and so I took an immediate dislike for him,” he confessed.
When Kofi moved in with his father and stepmum to Takoradi at age 13 , he had to go to the market every morning before going to school. As a result, he was always late for school and thus missed morning mental test, so "l was regularly lashed, because it was assumed that l had scored zero."
But despite the problems he faced in Takoradi, it was there that he had the opportunity to study in the evenings with electricity, instead of the lanterns he constantly used while in Axim. "And all the children in the area gathered on the compound we studied amidst chatting".
Surprisingly, with all his professional credentials, Mr Quantson did not attend any of the well-known secondary schools. He attended Clayborn College, Sekondi, an unassisted (private) secondary school as it was called in those days. He described the teaching in the school as rather awful, therefore, during school vacation, he used to compare his notes with his friends from the better schools and where he had any weaknesses, he asked for help. Even during school holidays, he would still go to the farm or sometimes fishing with his uncle.
After his senior Cambridge Examination, Mr Quantson trained as a teacher at Wesley College, Kumasi, where he taught in a number of schools before pursuing further studies at the University of Ghana, Legon. After the university education, he worked as a journalist at Ghanaian Times before joining the Special Branch of the Ghana Police Service.
Mr Quantson is married with children.
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
TEENAGE PREGNANCY GOES UP
Story: Augustina Tawiah
Teenage pregnancy cases among young adolescents (age 10 to 14) are gradually increasing, compared to cases among older adolescents (15 to 19) which are reducing.
According to a National Health Facility Data, teenage pregnancy cases among younger adolescents increased slightly in 2008, with 2,269 cases being recorded, as against the 2007 figure of 1,616.
However, among older adolescents, they reduced slightly in 2008, with 111,021 cases being recorded, as against the 101,527 recorded in 2007.
The records for previous years also showed that while cases among older adolescents reduced, those among younger adolescents increased.
For instance, in 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2006, 1,079 cases (representing 0.14 per cent), 1,382 (0.2 per cent), 1,574 (0.202 per cent) and 1,395 (0.2 per cent), respectively, were recorded among younger adolescents.
Among older adolescents in 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2006, 147,720 (14.5 per cent), 106, 254 (14.1 per cent), 107,157 (13, 784 per cent) and 103, 115 (13.0 per cent), respectively, were recorded.
The Adolescent Health Programme Manager of the Ghana Health Service, Ms Rejoice Nutakor, who made the data available in an interview, gave the possible reason for the increase in the cases of pregnancy among younger adolescents to be the inability of the service to reach pre-adolescents during its outreach programmes.
"Our targets have been adolescents, not pre-adolescents. What this means, therefore, is that we need to do more to reach out to them with education and information. We need to start talking to them about the parts of their bodies, touches that are dangerous and those that are positive so that they will be aware of those things before anybody takes advantage of them," she explained.
Ms Nutakor gave another possible reason for the increase in teenage pregnancy as exposure to the media, especially television, which, she explained, caused children to put what they watched into practice just to satisfy their curiosity.
She said parents also lacked information on adolescent reproductive health, saying those who had did not have the skills to communicate to their children.
She further mentioned poverty, which caused children to be taken advantage of, and low self-esteem as other possible reasons.
She disagreed with the fact that the increase could be due to the free maternal care that had been introduced for pregnant mothers, stressing that "most children don’t even know about its introduction and that is not the message we give them during our programmes".
On the reduction in pregnancy cases among older adolescents, she explained that it could be that the message to them during outreach programmes had been received well.
"It could also be that they are using protection such as condoms or are procuring abortion services," she added.
On measures that the GHS was taking to reduce teenage pregnancy, she said it was trying to bring on board other sectors such as the Ministries of Women and Children's Affairs (MOWAC), Education, Youth and Sports, Justice and Chieftaincy and Culture to play their roles effectively so that together they could stop teenage pregnancy.
Ms Nutakor called for the support of parents and religious leaders in educating young people on their reproductive health.
Teenage pregnancy cases among young adolescents (age 10 to 14) are gradually increasing, compared to cases among older adolescents (15 to 19) which are reducing.
According to a National Health Facility Data, teenage pregnancy cases among younger adolescents increased slightly in 2008, with 2,269 cases being recorded, as against the 2007 figure of 1,616.
However, among older adolescents, they reduced slightly in 2008, with 111,021 cases being recorded, as against the 101,527 recorded in 2007.
The records for previous years also showed that while cases among older adolescents reduced, those among younger adolescents increased.
For instance, in 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2006, 1,079 cases (representing 0.14 per cent), 1,382 (0.2 per cent), 1,574 (0.202 per cent) and 1,395 (0.2 per cent), respectively, were recorded among younger adolescents.
Among older adolescents in 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2006, 147,720 (14.5 per cent), 106, 254 (14.1 per cent), 107,157 (13, 784 per cent) and 103, 115 (13.0 per cent), respectively, were recorded.
The Adolescent Health Programme Manager of the Ghana Health Service, Ms Rejoice Nutakor, who made the data available in an interview, gave the possible reason for the increase in the cases of pregnancy among younger adolescents to be the inability of the service to reach pre-adolescents during its outreach programmes.
"Our targets have been adolescents, not pre-adolescents. What this means, therefore, is that we need to do more to reach out to them with education and information. We need to start talking to them about the parts of their bodies, touches that are dangerous and those that are positive so that they will be aware of those things before anybody takes advantage of them," she explained.
Ms Nutakor gave another possible reason for the increase in teenage pregnancy as exposure to the media, especially television, which, she explained, caused children to put what they watched into practice just to satisfy their curiosity.
She said parents also lacked information on adolescent reproductive health, saying those who had did not have the skills to communicate to their children.
She further mentioned poverty, which caused children to be taken advantage of, and low self-esteem as other possible reasons.
She disagreed with the fact that the increase could be due to the free maternal care that had been introduced for pregnant mothers, stressing that "most children don’t even know about its introduction and that is not the message we give them during our programmes".
On the reduction in pregnancy cases among older adolescents, she explained that it could be that the message to them during outreach programmes had been received well.
"It could also be that they are using protection such as condoms or are procuring abortion services," she added.
On measures that the GHS was taking to reduce teenage pregnancy, she said it was trying to bring on board other sectors such as the Ministries of Women and Children's Affairs (MOWAC), Education, Youth and Sports, Justice and Chieftaincy and Culture to play their roles effectively so that together they could stop teenage pregnancy.
Ms Nutakor called for the support of parents and religious leaders in educating young people on their reproductive health.
DR GOBIND NANKANI — THE BOOKWORM
Story: Augustina Tawiah
For young Gobind Nankani, being born into a wealthy family had its challenges. This was because, as a young school boy, he had to contend with a lot of teasing from his schoolmates anytime he was studying because they thought with his family background, he should not waste his time on books.
"For me, having a rosy childhood was actually bad because my friends did not expect me to work hard since my family was wealthy. They always thought I was wasting my time studying."
But young Nankani did not allow those negative remarks by his friends to stop him from studying. "I ignored them because I felt as a young boy there were certain things I had to do and one of them was to study very hard and that was what I did."
Although his friends spent most of their time playing, he did not follow suit. “I was more selective with how much time I spent chatting and playing football. Sometimes, I spent only an hour playing and then went back to my books. There were times that for a whole week, I would not play.”
So serious was his attitude towards his studies that in those days when his father took him to their shop and cinema to help with the family business, he took his books along to read.
Indeed, his love for his books which he said, gave him a sense of achievement and fulfilment paid off. Today, he holds a PhD in Economics from one of the top universities in the world, Harvard University, USA. Dr Gobind Nankani, a former World Bank Vice President for the Africa Region is Ghanaian by birth and Indian by parentage. His father, a businessman is a partner of one of the biggest shops in the country known as the Nankani and Hagan stores. In Kumasi, where he was born and grew up, his father used to own one of the biggest cinema theatres there, known as the Nankani Cinemas.
Dr Gobind Nankani is based in London but visits the country regularly, especially now that he has been appointed the Chairman of Ghana's Economic Advisory Council, that provides advise to the President, Prof J.E.A. Mills. Junior Graphic contacted him while in the country recently to share his childhood experiences with children. In fact, except for the colour of his skin, hair texture and name that suggested he is Indian, everything about him is Ghanaian: He speaks fluent twi, had all his education in Ghana and is married to a Ghanaian, Mrs Helen Frimpong-Nankani. In fact, his own words sum it all, “I am completely Ghanaian”.
Taking us through his school days in Kumasi, Dr Nankani said he was not treated differently by his colleagues because of the colour of his skin. “I spoke the language (twi). Besides, we played together during break time and ate "red red" just like everybody else. He spoke with nostalgia about the happy moments he spent with his friends whenever they walked to and from school and the gutter to gutter football they used to play together.
But despite all his studies, young Nankani did not neglect his responsibilities at home. According to him, in those days, after school, during school holidays and weekends he assisted in the running of the family business. These included, going to work at their shops and cinemas. At the cinema, his responsibility was to check the tickets of the people that entered. “And I remember while at the gate checking the tickets, a lot of my friends would come and I allowed them to go in free," he said smiling.
Dr Nankani grew up at Adum, Kumasi, where he said as a boy, he witnessed a lot of the political clashes that occurred between the then ruling Convention People's Party of Dr Kwame Nkrumah and the National Liberation Movement (NLM) led by Baffour Osei Akoto. He said their house was just by the roadside, so he saw a lot of the violence between those two political groups. "It was disturbing for me as a young boy to see blood ooze out of people and others dead on the streets" he said.
Young Nankani started school at Asafo Kindergarten and then continued at St Anglican School where he ranked among the top students. On completion, he was enrolled at Asanteman Secondary School. From Asanteman, his mother wanted him to learn about the Indian culture, so he was sent there for further studies. However, after a three-and-half years stay there, he returned to Ghana and was enrolled at Opoku Ware SHS where he had his Sixth Form.
Dr Nankani had his Bachelor of Economics Degree at the University of Ghana, Legon, earning at the time, a rare first class honours degree and later Masters and PhD degrees from Harvard University, USA. He joined the World Bank in 1976 and left in 2006.
Dr Nankani loves reading medical literature because as a child it was his ambition to become a doctor as one way of serving society. He has twin daughters; Serwaah and Asantewaa.
For young Gobind Nankani, being born into a wealthy family had its challenges. This was because, as a young school boy, he had to contend with a lot of teasing from his schoolmates anytime he was studying because they thought with his family background, he should not waste his time on books.
"For me, having a rosy childhood was actually bad because my friends did not expect me to work hard since my family was wealthy. They always thought I was wasting my time studying."
But young Nankani did not allow those negative remarks by his friends to stop him from studying. "I ignored them because I felt as a young boy there were certain things I had to do and one of them was to study very hard and that was what I did."
Although his friends spent most of their time playing, he did not follow suit. “I was more selective with how much time I spent chatting and playing football. Sometimes, I spent only an hour playing and then went back to my books. There were times that for a whole week, I would not play.”
So serious was his attitude towards his studies that in those days when his father took him to their shop and cinema to help with the family business, he took his books along to read.
Indeed, his love for his books which he said, gave him a sense of achievement and fulfilment paid off. Today, he holds a PhD in Economics from one of the top universities in the world, Harvard University, USA. Dr Gobind Nankani, a former World Bank Vice President for the Africa Region is Ghanaian by birth and Indian by parentage. His father, a businessman is a partner of one of the biggest shops in the country known as the Nankani and Hagan stores. In Kumasi, where he was born and grew up, his father used to own one of the biggest cinema theatres there, known as the Nankani Cinemas.
Dr Gobind Nankani is based in London but visits the country regularly, especially now that he has been appointed the Chairman of Ghana's Economic Advisory Council, that provides advise to the President, Prof J.E.A. Mills. Junior Graphic contacted him while in the country recently to share his childhood experiences with children. In fact, except for the colour of his skin, hair texture and name that suggested he is Indian, everything about him is Ghanaian: He speaks fluent twi, had all his education in Ghana and is married to a Ghanaian, Mrs Helen Frimpong-Nankani. In fact, his own words sum it all, “I am completely Ghanaian”.
Taking us through his school days in Kumasi, Dr Nankani said he was not treated differently by his colleagues because of the colour of his skin. “I spoke the language (twi). Besides, we played together during break time and ate "red red" just like everybody else. He spoke with nostalgia about the happy moments he spent with his friends whenever they walked to and from school and the gutter to gutter football they used to play together.
But despite all his studies, young Nankani did not neglect his responsibilities at home. According to him, in those days, after school, during school holidays and weekends he assisted in the running of the family business. These included, going to work at their shops and cinemas. At the cinema, his responsibility was to check the tickets of the people that entered. “And I remember while at the gate checking the tickets, a lot of my friends would come and I allowed them to go in free," he said smiling.
Dr Nankani grew up at Adum, Kumasi, where he said as a boy, he witnessed a lot of the political clashes that occurred between the then ruling Convention People's Party of Dr Kwame Nkrumah and the National Liberation Movement (NLM) led by Baffour Osei Akoto. He said their house was just by the roadside, so he saw a lot of the violence between those two political groups. "It was disturbing for me as a young boy to see blood ooze out of people and others dead on the streets" he said.
Young Nankani started school at Asafo Kindergarten and then continued at St Anglican School where he ranked among the top students. On completion, he was enrolled at Asanteman Secondary School. From Asanteman, his mother wanted him to learn about the Indian culture, so he was sent there for further studies. However, after a three-and-half years stay there, he returned to Ghana and was enrolled at Opoku Ware SHS where he had his Sixth Form.
Dr Nankani had his Bachelor of Economics Degree at the University of Ghana, Legon, earning at the time, a rare first class honours degree and later Masters and PhD degrees from Harvard University, USA. He joined the World Bank in 1976 and left in 2006.
Dr Nankani loves reading medical literature because as a child it was his ambition to become a doctor as one way of serving society. He has twin daughters; Serwaah and Asantewaa.
Friday, June 19, 2009
LIFE'S UNBEARABLE — SCHOOLS BLAME COMMUNITIES
Story: Augustina Tawiah
A number of schools in some communities in various parts of the country find life unbearable due to activities of inhabitants of the communities.
The schools complained that some members of the communities in which they are situated, break into the classrooms to smoke wee, engage in sexual activities and sometimes steal school property.
In an interview withMr Dominic Akorli, local GNAT Chairman (circuit 38) at the Fadama Cluster of Schools, for instance, he complained bitterly about how members of the community had been using the school's compound to play football and other sporting activities during classes and, thereby, disturbing the entire school because the compound was not fenced.
He complained that the activities of the footballers disrupted class activities as they reported as early as 5 am to play football and left around 8:20 am when school was in session “and they return in the afternoons at 3 pm when those in the afternoon session are in class,” he added.
According to him, sometimes the encroachers hide in their classrooms and engage in illicit activities leaving behind condoms which schoolchildren have to dispose of almost everyday.
"Encroachers on the school lands also make so much noise that sometimes while teaching is going on, instead of the pupils concentrating when their teachers were teaching, they dance to music being played.”
“During sporting activities in the school, some community members invade the school compound and even go to the extent of sometimes fondling female students. And no one dares complain for fear of their lives. Three pregnant female teachers on different occasions collapsed after being hit by balls during football matches played by the encroachers on the compound," he added.
At the Apenkwa Cluster of Schools, the situation was not different. A source there disclosed that the roofing of almost all the classrooms leaked because of the activities of the footballers.
The source said drug peddlers sold and smoked wee on the compound sometimes in the presence of the students adding that, "if you try to challenge them, they will harm you".
It said, because the school was not fenced, people often broke into the classrooms and sometimes eased themselves there.
Meanwhile, the Director of Basic Education, Ghana Education Service (GES), Mr Stephen Adu, has stated that the GES would soon require all new schools to be fenced.
This directive would be part of a broader 'School-Friendly Environmental Guidelines' the GES was developing is meant to ensure security in schools as well as protect children and school lands.
"In urban areas and even some villages, people are taking over school lands. Some school compounds are also being used as football fields which we are aware of. People also go to schools when classes are still in session and pick up their children. If all schools are secured, all these things would be prevented," he noted.
Mr Adu, who said these in an interview said, "schools that do not have the resources to fence their buildings, especially those in the villages, can grow flowers or plants around them to serve the same purpose".
He explained that though the guidelines would not affect old school structures already in the system, "those who can afford can do so, but those who cannot, can plant hedges and also use wire mesh to secure the schools".
He stated that the school-friendly environment guidelines were still under discussion and when all was ready, it would be adopted by public schools in the country.
Ms Victoria Akrong, Headmistress of Apenkwa Presby Primary said the introduction of the guidelines would help a lot because it meant intruders who broke into schools would have to be arrested and it would check the activities of hawkers, motor riders and passers by who made so much noise while school was in session.
A number of schools in some communities in various parts of the country find life unbearable due to activities of inhabitants of the communities.
The schools complained that some members of the communities in which they are situated, break into the classrooms to smoke wee, engage in sexual activities and sometimes steal school property.
In an interview withMr Dominic Akorli, local GNAT Chairman (circuit 38) at the Fadama Cluster of Schools, for instance, he complained bitterly about how members of the community had been using the school's compound to play football and other sporting activities during classes and, thereby, disturbing the entire school because the compound was not fenced.
He complained that the activities of the footballers disrupted class activities as they reported as early as 5 am to play football and left around 8:20 am when school was in session “and they return in the afternoons at 3 pm when those in the afternoon session are in class,” he added.
According to him, sometimes the encroachers hide in their classrooms and engage in illicit activities leaving behind condoms which schoolchildren have to dispose of almost everyday.
"Encroachers on the school lands also make so much noise that sometimes while teaching is going on, instead of the pupils concentrating when their teachers were teaching, they dance to music being played.”
“During sporting activities in the school, some community members invade the school compound and even go to the extent of sometimes fondling female students. And no one dares complain for fear of their lives. Three pregnant female teachers on different occasions collapsed after being hit by balls during football matches played by the encroachers on the compound," he added.
At the Apenkwa Cluster of Schools, the situation was not different. A source there disclosed that the roofing of almost all the classrooms leaked because of the activities of the footballers.
The source said drug peddlers sold and smoked wee on the compound sometimes in the presence of the students adding that, "if you try to challenge them, they will harm you".
It said, because the school was not fenced, people often broke into the classrooms and sometimes eased themselves there.
Meanwhile, the Director of Basic Education, Ghana Education Service (GES), Mr Stephen Adu, has stated that the GES would soon require all new schools to be fenced.
This directive would be part of a broader 'School-Friendly Environmental Guidelines' the GES was developing is meant to ensure security in schools as well as protect children and school lands.
"In urban areas and even some villages, people are taking over school lands. Some school compounds are also being used as football fields which we are aware of. People also go to schools when classes are still in session and pick up their children. If all schools are secured, all these things would be prevented," he noted.
Mr Adu, who said these in an interview said, "schools that do not have the resources to fence their buildings, especially those in the villages, can grow flowers or plants around them to serve the same purpose".
He explained that though the guidelines would not affect old school structures already in the system, "those who can afford can do so, but those who cannot, can plant hedges and also use wire mesh to secure the schools".
He stated that the school-friendly environment guidelines were still under discussion and when all was ready, it would be adopted by public schools in the country.
Ms Victoria Akrong, Headmistress of Apenkwa Presby Primary said the introduction of the guidelines would help a lot because it meant intruders who broke into schools would have to be arrested and it would check the activities of hawkers, motor riders and passers by who made so much noise while school was in session.
Friday, June 12, 2009
TEACH BOYS CHILD CARE AND HOME-MAKING SKILLS
Story: Augustina Tawiah
THE Director of the Women's Division of the Methodist Church, Ghana, Madam Angelina Wood, has noted that male children should also be taught child care and home-making skills.
"The practice whereby girls alone do house work and help in child care should be discouraged. Such chores should be regarded as a shared responsibility within the family," she emphasised.
Mutual respect, she added, should be seen as being crucial to good family life and, therefore, boys should also be taught to respect women.
Madam Wood said this when she delivered a talk on the third Millennium Development Goal (MDG) — promote gender equality and empower women — to members of the Women's Fellowship of the Good Shepherd Methodist Church, North Kaneshie.
The talk formed part of activities to mark Women's Work Sunday which is observed by Methodists all over the world.
She called on the church and society to recognise God's gift of leadership in women and encourage them to be in leadership at all church and society levels.
"Those already in leadership positions should be supported with our prayers," she added.
She noted with concern the incidence of domestic violence in our communities and asked women to provide emotional and material support for the victims.
Madam Wood said it was time for women to know their rights and those of children.
She reminded the women of the other MDGs that had been selected for discussion and urged them to organise seminars to discuss them and take appropriate steps, where necessary, to bring them to fruition.
The other goals are the eradication of extreme poverty, achievement of universal primary education, reduction of child mortality, improvement of maternal health and combating HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases.
The week-long celebration was rounded off with a divine service at the church, during which funds were raised to support women's projects in the diocese.
One such project is the Hope for Teens Skill Training Programme situated on the premises of the Rev Thomas Clegg Memorial Methodist Church, Kaneshie.
THE Director of the Women's Division of the Methodist Church, Ghana, Madam Angelina Wood, has noted that male children should also be taught child care and home-making skills.
"The practice whereby girls alone do house work and help in child care should be discouraged. Such chores should be regarded as a shared responsibility within the family," she emphasised.
Mutual respect, she added, should be seen as being crucial to good family life and, therefore, boys should also be taught to respect women.
Madam Wood said this when she delivered a talk on the third Millennium Development Goal (MDG) — promote gender equality and empower women — to members of the Women's Fellowship of the Good Shepherd Methodist Church, North Kaneshie.
The talk formed part of activities to mark Women's Work Sunday which is observed by Methodists all over the world.
She called on the church and society to recognise God's gift of leadership in women and encourage them to be in leadership at all church and society levels.
"Those already in leadership positions should be supported with our prayers," she added.
She noted with concern the incidence of domestic violence in our communities and asked women to provide emotional and material support for the victims.
Madam Wood said it was time for women to know their rights and those of children.
She reminded the women of the other MDGs that had been selected for discussion and urged them to organise seminars to discuss them and take appropriate steps, where necessary, to bring them to fruition.
The other goals are the eradication of extreme poverty, achievement of universal primary education, reduction of child mortality, improvement of maternal health and combating HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases.
The week-long celebration was rounded off with a divine service at the church, during which funds were raised to support women's projects in the diocese.
One such project is the Hope for Teens Skill Training Programme situated on the premises of the Rev Thomas Clegg Memorial Methodist Church, Kaneshie.
TEACH MALE CHILDREN HOME-MAKING SKILL
Story: Augustina Tawiah
THE Director of the Women's Division of the Methodist Church, Ghana, Madam Angelina Wood, has noted that male children should also be taught child care and home-making skills.
"The practice whereby girls alone do house work and help in child care should be discouraged. Such chores should be regarded as a shared responsibility within the family," she emphasised.
Mutual respect, she added, should be seen as being crucial to good family life and, therefore, boys should also be taught to respect women.
Madam Wood said this when she delivered a talk on the third Millennium Development Goal (MDG) — promote gender equality and empower women — to members of the Women's Fellowship of the Good Shepherd Methodist Church, North Kaneshie.
The talk formed part of activities to mark Women's Work Sunday which is observed by Methodists all over the world.
She called on the church and society to recognise God's gift of leadership in women and encourage them to be in leadership at all church and society levels.
"Those already in leadership positions should be supported with our prayers," she added.
She noted with concern the incidence of domestic violence in our communities and asked women to provide emotional and material support for the victims.
Madam Wood said it was time for women to know their rights and those of children.
She reminded the women of the other MDGs that had been selected for discussion and urged them to organise seminars to discuss them and take appropriate steps, where necessary, to bring them to fruition.
The other goals are the eradication of extreme poverty, achievement of universal primary education, reduction of child mortality, improvement of maternal health and combating HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases.
The week-long celebration was rounded off with a divine service at the church, during which funds were raised to support women's projects in the diocese.
One such project is the Hope for Teens Skill Training Programme situated on the premises of the Rev Thomas Clegg Memorial Methodist Church, Kaneshie.
THE Director of the Women's Division of the Methodist Church, Ghana, Madam Angelina Wood, has noted that male children should also be taught child care and home-making skills.
"The practice whereby girls alone do house work and help in child care should be discouraged. Such chores should be regarded as a shared responsibility within the family," she emphasised.
Mutual respect, she added, should be seen as being crucial to good family life and, therefore, boys should also be taught to respect women.
Madam Wood said this when she delivered a talk on the third Millennium Development Goal (MDG) — promote gender equality and empower women — to members of the Women's Fellowship of the Good Shepherd Methodist Church, North Kaneshie.
The talk formed part of activities to mark Women's Work Sunday which is observed by Methodists all over the world.
She called on the church and society to recognise God's gift of leadership in women and encourage them to be in leadership at all church and society levels.
"Those already in leadership positions should be supported with our prayers," she added.
She noted with concern the incidence of domestic violence in our communities and asked women to provide emotional and material support for the victims.
Madam Wood said it was time for women to know their rights and those of children.
She reminded the women of the other MDGs that had been selected for discussion and urged them to organise seminars to discuss them and take appropriate steps, where necessary, to bring them to fruition.
The other goals are the eradication of extreme poverty, achievement of universal primary education, reduction of child mortality, improvement of maternal health and combating HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases.
The week-long celebration was rounded off with a divine service at the church, during which funds were raised to support women's projects in the diocese.
One such project is the Hope for Teens Skill Training Programme situated on the premises of the Rev Thomas Clegg Memorial Methodist Church, Kaneshie.
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
Polio Immunisation successful
Story: Augustina Tawiah
The Programme Manager of the Expanded Programme on Immunisation(EPI) Dr Kwadwo Antwi-Agyei, has described as very successful the two rounds of nationwide polio immunisation organised for children under five years in the first quarter of this year.
He explained that in the first round, organised from February 12 to 14, 4,807,262 children were immunised as against the targeted 4,836,337.
The second round which was organised from March 26 to 29 had 5,007,789 children immunised as against the expected 4,807,262.
The Antwi-Agyei attributed the success of the campaign to the intensive awareness created. “Parents have also become more aware of the relevance of immunisation and were therefore bringing their children to be immunised,” he added.
The EPI programme manager, however, said despite the nationwide success, some districts had low coverage, adding that they were expecting 90 to 95 per cent coverage in all the districts.
The districts that recorded low coverage included Ashiedu Keteke in the Greater Accra Region with less than 80 per cent coverage in the first round of immunisation. In the second round, Sunyani West in the Brong Ahafo Region had 72.5 per cent; Talensi Nabdam in the Upper East Region, 67.1 per cent and Ketu in the Volta Region, 63.3 per cent.
Afram Plains and Ayawaso, in the Eastern and Greater Accra Regions, respectively had between 80 per cent and 90 per cent coverage.
He said the low coverage in those districts meant that the children were not completely covered which rendered them susceptible to the disease.
On the next line of action, Dr Antwi-Agyei said “We are still not safe. That is why we have to do another round of immunisation from May 28 to 30, 2009.”
He explained that the disease was still spreading in other West African countries with 843 recorded last year in the sub region.
Dr Antwi-Agyei assured parents that getting extra doses of the polio vaccine was not injurious to children, “Rather, they offer better protection against the disease”.
The Programme Manager of the Expanded Programme on Immunisation(EPI) Dr Kwadwo Antwi-Agyei, has described as very successful the two rounds of nationwide polio immunisation organised for children under five years in the first quarter of this year.
He explained that in the first round, organised from February 12 to 14, 4,807,262 children were immunised as against the targeted 4,836,337.
The second round which was organised from March 26 to 29 had 5,007,789 children immunised as against the expected 4,807,262.
The Antwi-Agyei attributed the success of the campaign to the intensive awareness created. “Parents have also become more aware of the relevance of immunisation and were therefore bringing their children to be immunised,” he added.
The EPI programme manager, however, said despite the nationwide success, some districts had low coverage, adding that they were expecting 90 to 95 per cent coverage in all the districts.
The districts that recorded low coverage included Ashiedu Keteke in the Greater Accra Region with less than 80 per cent coverage in the first round of immunisation. In the second round, Sunyani West in the Brong Ahafo Region had 72.5 per cent; Talensi Nabdam in the Upper East Region, 67.1 per cent and Ketu in the Volta Region, 63.3 per cent.
Afram Plains and Ayawaso, in the Eastern and Greater Accra Regions, respectively had between 80 per cent and 90 per cent coverage.
He said the low coverage in those districts meant that the children were not completely covered which rendered them susceptible to the disease.
On the next line of action, Dr Antwi-Agyei said “We are still not safe. That is why we have to do another round of immunisation from May 28 to 30, 2009.”
He explained that the disease was still spreading in other West African countries with 843 recorded last year in the sub region.
Dr Antwi-Agyei assured parents that getting extra doses of the polio vaccine was not injurious to children, “Rather, they offer better protection against the disease”.
Restricted Drugs List to be expanded
Story: Augustina Tawiah
THE Ministry of Health and the Food and Drugs Board are discussing the possibility of increasing the number of restricted drugs in the country.
The Minister of Health, Dr George Sipa-Adjah Yankey, disclosed this during interactions with members of the Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association of Ghana (PMAG).
He said the move was meant to support the local pharmaceutical manufacturing industry.
He, however, stated that the expansion of the restricted drugs list did not mean that the local manufacturers should lose focus and produce sub-standard drugs.
"So far as you keep on manufacturing quality drugs, we will continue to expand the number of restricted drugs into the country," he assured.
Currently, the number of restricted drugs list stands at 66.
The minister noted that the time had come for the local pharmaceutical industry to develop in order to make its products more competitive on the international market.
"I urge you to grow your businesses, market them and penetrate other markets. By doing that, the economy of the country also grows".
During question time, the Director of M & G Pharmaceuticals Limited, Mr Gopal C. Vasu, stated that the biggest problem facing the local pharmaceutical industry has to do with the delays associated with the claims they send to the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA).
He explained that most of the manufacturers borrowed money from the banks in order to manufacture the drugs but said it was frustrating when drugs supplied to the scheme were not paid for on time.
Mr Vasu called for the representation of the association on the NHIS board.
The President of MPAG, Dr Michael Agyekum-Addo, also asked the minister to do something about the delays in the payment of their claims from the NHIA to sustain the local pharmacuetical industry.
THE Ministry of Health and the Food and Drugs Board are discussing the possibility of increasing the number of restricted drugs in the country.
The Minister of Health, Dr George Sipa-Adjah Yankey, disclosed this during interactions with members of the Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association of Ghana (PMAG).
He said the move was meant to support the local pharmaceutical manufacturing industry.
He, however, stated that the expansion of the restricted drugs list did not mean that the local manufacturers should lose focus and produce sub-standard drugs.
"So far as you keep on manufacturing quality drugs, we will continue to expand the number of restricted drugs into the country," he assured.
Currently, the number of restricted drugs list stands at 66.
The minister noted that the time had come for the local pharmaceutical industry to develop in order to make its products more competitive on the international market.
"I urge you to grow your businesses, market them and penetrate other markets. By doing that, the economy of the country also grows".
During question time, the Director of M & G Pharmaceuticals Limited, Mr Gopal C. Vasu, stated that the biggest problem facing the local pharmaceutical industry has to do with the delays associated with the claims they send to the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA).
He explained that most of the manufacturers borrowed money from the banks in order to manufacture the drugs but said it was frustrating when drugs supplied to the scheme were not paid for on time.
Mr Vasu called for the representation of the association on the NHIS board.
The President of MPAG, Dr Michael Agyekum-Addo, also asked the minister to do something about the delays in the payment of their claims from the NHIA to sustain the local pharmacuetical industry.
Friday, May 8, 2009
He read verociously—Prof Akilakpa Sawyerr
When Young Georgie was nine, he lost his father, Lawyer Akilagpa Sawyerr tragically while he was swimming at the beach. His mother, therefore, had to deny herself of many things to keep Young Georgie and his siblings in school. Seeing his mother go through difficulties to make ends meet, Georgie felt obliged to be serious with his school work in order not to let his mother down.
"I knew my mother was struggling to put me through school so I made sure I remained focused in class. I paid attention in class, made sure I understood whatever was being taught and if I did not understand anything, I asked for further explanation," he recalled.
Indeed, Young Georgie's attentiveness in class paid off, as today he has made not only his 95-year-old mother proud but has become an important personality in Ghana and Africa.
Young Georgie, who is now known as Prof Akilakpa Sawyerr, has contributed immensely to educational delivery in the country and Africa. He is a former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ghana, Legon (1985-1992) and until recently was the Secretary-General, Association of African Universities.
Prof Sawyerr, who is a Professor of Law, has taught and served in various capacities in universities throughout the world, including the universities of Papua New Guinea, Dar-Es-Salaam, Tanzania; the Yale Law School, the Harvard Law School and the Alabama Law School, all in the US. Even though he is currently on retirement, he is doing a lot of research work in the field of education. Just recently, he was appointed a member of the Council of State.
The Junior Graphic was with Prof Sawyerr, at his New Achimota residence to glean some of his childhood experiences to encourage children to inspire to model his life.
Prof Sawyerr, who will turn 70 next week said that, "As a student, I read a lot, not only my assigned books but any book I came across. When I went to the library and I got a book I liked, I read everything on the shelf about that author. And I benefited a lot from that, especially in the usage of idioms."
The law professor, who grew up at Tudu in Accra, said even though he came from an upper-class family because his father was a lawyer and a member of the National Assembly (equivalent to today's Parliament), he was just like any other child who grew up in that area.
Can you believe that Prof Sawyerr was once a boxer? Oh yes, he was a boxer. Hear him, "I was an amateur boxer when I was in Achimota School, and a serious one, of course, fighting all over the place. I even became the boxing coach for my school and one of those I coached at Achimota School was Prof Ivan Addae-Mensah, the former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ghana, Legon."
Georgie, as Prof Sawyerr was then called, acquired his boxing skills from the many boxers who used to train in his father's boxing gym in their house at Tudu.
"Then a little boy of less than nine, I was always around the boxers, observing them as they fought and I think I picked the skills," he said with a smile.
Being the first son of his mother's four children, Georgie used to accompany his father in the mornings during his long walks to the beach to swim. While at the beach, he defied the fact that he was too young to swim and swam with his dad. Not even the tragic death of his father deterred him from going to the beach regularly.
"My mother often tried to prevent me after my father's death, but I still went," he said.
When Georgie's father died, he, his mother and siblings left the family home at Tudu for Palladium, Accra, to live with his maternal grandparents. Georgie, who did not perform any chores at home, made sure that at school he grasped everything, so that he got enough time to play when he came home.
"I used to play gutter-to-gutter football with my friends in the neighbourhood. I also used to walk all the way from Palladium to the Trades Union Congress (TUC) area which was then known as Asylum to pluck mangoes. In those days, there were no buildings around that area and you would be on top of the tree plucking mangoes when you saw some of the inmates of the psychiatric hospital coming. Of course, we got scared so we didn’t come down until they left," he said.
Prof Sawyerr started his education at Government School, Adabraka, then to Government School, now Kinbu Sec/Tech. He had his secondary education at Achimota School where, according to him, he was very unpopular with the authorities.
"I was an outspoken person who wanted my views heard. I was regularly punished in school to dig the ground because I had done this or that. It even got to a time when I was almost sacked for being a trouble maker," he recollected.
But there were some fond memories Prof Sawyerr had of his alma mater. For instance, it was there that he learnt to speak Twi for the first time. It was also there that he became the leader of the dancing and drumming group of the school.
After Achimota, Prof Sawyerr entered the University of Ghana to study law. He then went to the University of London to study for his LL.M degree. He sat for his Bar examination in 1963 and was called to the Bar in England in 1965. He studied for his second Masters degree at the University of California, USA.
Prof Sawyerr, whose name appears to be unGhanaian, explained that he comes from Sierra Leonean and Nigerian backgrounds. His cousin is Mr Harry Sawyerr, the popular politician. He has two children.
"I knew my mother was struggling to put me through school so I made sure I remained focused in class. I paid attention in class, made sure I understood whatever was being taught and if I did not understand anything, I asked for further explanation," he recalled.
Indeed, Young Georgie's attentiveness in class paid off, as today he has made not only his 95-year-old mother proud but has become an important personality in Ghana and Africa.
Young Georgie, who is now known as Prof Akilakpa Sawyerr, has contributed immensely to educational delivery in the country and Africa. He is a former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ghana, Legon (1985-1992) and until recently was the Secretary-General, Association of African Universities.
Prof Sawyerr, who is a Professor of Law, has taught and served in various capacities in universities throughout the world, including the universities of Papua New Guinea, Dar-Es-Salaam, Tanzania; the Yale Law School, the Harvard Law School and the Alabama Law School, all in the US. Even though he is currently on retirement, he is doing a lot of research work in the field of education. Just recently, he was appointed a member of the Council of State.
The Junior Graphic was with Prof Sawyerr, at his New Achimota residence to glean some of his childhood experiences to encourage children to inspire to model his life.
Prof Sawyerr, who will turn 70 next week said that, "As a student, I read a lot, not only my assigned books but any book I came across. When I went to the library and I got a book I liked, I read everything on the shelf about that author. And I benefited a lot from that, especially in the usage of idioms."
The law professor, who grew up at Tudu in Accra, said even though he came from an upper-class family because his father was a lawyer and a member of the National Assembly (equivalent to today's Parliament), he was just like any other child who grew up in that area.
Can you believe that Prof Sawyerr was once a boxer? Oh yes, he was a boxer. Hear him, "I was an amateur boxer when I was in Achimota School, and a serious one, of course, fighting all over the place. I even became the boxing coach for my school and one of those I coached at Achimota School was Prof Ivan Addae-Mensah, the former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ghana, Legon."
Georgie, as Prof Sawyerr was then called, acquired his boxing skills from the many boxers who used to train in his father's boxing gym in their house at Tudu.
"Then a little boy of less than nine, I was always around the boxers, observing them as they fought and I think I picked the skills," he said with a smile.
Being the first son of his mother's four children, Georgie used to accompany his father in the mornings during his long walks to the beach to swim. While at the beach, he defied the fact that he was too young to swim and swam with his dad. Not even the tragic death of his father deterred him from going to the beach regularly.
"My mother often tried to prevent me after my father's death, but I still went," he said.
When Georgie's father died, he, his mother and siblings left the family home at Tudu for Palladium, Accra, to live with his maternal grandparents. Georgie, who did not perform any chores at home, made sure that at school he grasped everything, so that he got enough time to play when he came home.
"I used to play gutter-to-gutter football with my friends in the neighbourhood. I also used to walk all the way from Palladium to the Trades Union Congress (TUC) area which was then known as Asylum to pluck mangoes. In those days, there were no buildings around that area and you would be on top of the tree plucking mangoes when you saw some of the inmates of the psychiatric hospital coming. Of course, we got scared so we didn’t come down until they left," he said.
Prof Sawyerr started his education at Government School, Adabraka, then to Government School, now Kinbu Sec/Tech. He had his secondary education at Achimota School where, according to him, he was very unpopular with the authorities.
"I was an outspoken person who wanted my views heard. I was regularly punished in school to dig the ground because I had done this or that. It even got to a time when I was almost sacked for being a trouble maker," he recollected.
But there were some fond memories Prof Sawyerr had of his alma mater. For instance, it was there that he learnt to speak Twi for the first time. It was also there that he became the leader of the dancing and drumming group of the school.
After Achimota, Prof Sawyerr entered the University of Ghana to study law. He then went to the University of London to study for his LL.M degree. He sat for his Bar examination in 1963 and was called to the Bar in England in 1965. He studied for his second Masters degree at the University of California, USA.
Prof Sawyerr, whose name appears to be unGhanaian, explained that he comes from Sierra Leonean and Nigerian backgrounds. His cousin is Mr Harry Sawyerr, the popular politician. He has two children.
The boy who could predict the future
He was born with special gifts that would make anyone who knows him today conclude that perhaps, he was destined to be who he is today.This was because as early as nine years, he could foresee future events and whatever he predicted came to pass.
"When I tell you this will happen to you, it will happen. When I say it will rain tomorrow, it will indeed rain. When my school is going for sporting activities and I predict the scores, that indeed would be the score," disclosed Rt Rev. Joseph Bondzie Impraim, who until recently was the Methodist Bishop of Oda.
Young Impraim's gift went beyond soothsaying. For some strange reasons, as a child whenever he went to sell, all his wares got finished quickly. "My aunty sold bread, kenkey and provisions and whenever I sold to the first person who came to buy from her, that day, all the items would get finished. It was a gift I did not understand."
However, instead of people appreciating his gift of predicting future events, they called him a wizard. "Initially, I did not know that being a wizard was something bad so I was happy when they called me so. Later, when I got to know the meaning, I stopped them from calling me that and that also stopped me from predicting future events". With time, because he did not use the gift, young Impraim completely lost it.
Junior Graphic caught up with Rt Rev. Impraim recently to share his childhood story with children.
Held in high esteem by the church, it was said that, as a priest, he once went to church but the church had not been swept so he picked up a broom and started sweeping. No wonder he was awarded the Best Humble Priest by the Church. But do you know that this man of God never wanted to become a priest as a child?
"Throughout my childhood, people called me "sofo" (priest) but I did not want to become a minister because of the insults and negative things I have heard people say about them in my area," stated the reverend minister. Young Impraim was born some 63 years ago at Apam but when he was five years old, he was separated from his parents and stayed with his aunty, first at Agona Swedru then to Abora Dunkwa where he started school. His stay in Abora Dunkwa was, however, brief as the family moved to Kintampo then to Shama, in the Western region where he grew up.
Shama was a fishing community and because young Impraim's aunty was a baker and sold items like kenkey and provisions, everyday before and after school, he went to sell those items. After school, however, when his wares got finished early, he did not go home. Instead, he went to the beach to play football with friends till late in the evening. "I sometimes came home with a broken leg and my aunty would scold me. But that did not stop me from playing football. I still went back when my wound was healed."
Even though young Impraim did a lot of selling as a child, he never played with his books. "Sometimes, while selling kenkey in the evening, my books will be by my side. Therefore, any little time that I got, I read. Again, because I knew at home I won’t get enough time to study, I made sure I studied and did my home work at school before I came home."
But do you know why young Impraim paid so much attention to his books? He did not want any girl to beat him in exams. He was also so much conscious about what people say about him that he did not make too many friends. "You will never see me involved in fights but I always spoke my mind freely. If I see someone doing the wrong thing, I pointed it out to them. Even with my teachers, when I see them having an affair with the students, I confront them."
Young Impraim's desire to have secondary education was nearly shattered when after spending only a term in Fijai Secondary School, he was sacked home for non payment of fees. He, therefore, had to stay at home for two years but used that period to teach. He saved the little money he earned to enter teacher training college.
It was while at teacher training that young Impraim's perception about reverend ministers changed after an encounter with God. He, therefore went to the Trinity Theological Seminary to be trained as a minister after training college. In 1981, he graduated from Trinity with a diploma in Theology.
He was first posted to Wesley Grammar School to teach and serve as the chaplain and guidance and counselling teacher. After years of teaching at Wesley Grammar, he went into full time ministry in 1985. He is married to Mrs Dora Impraim and has 10 children.
"When I tell you this will happen to you, it will happen. When I say it will rain tomorrow, it will indeed rain. When my school is going for sporting activities and I predict the scores, that indeed would be the score," disclosed Rt Rev. Joseph Bondzie Impraim, who until recently was the Methodist Bishop of Oda.
Young Impraim's gift went beyond soothsaying. For some strange reasons, as a child whenever he went to sell, all his wares got finished quickly. "My aunty sold bread, kenkey and provisions and whenever I sold to the first person who came to buy from her, that day, all the items would get finished. It was a gift I did not understand."
However, instead of people appreciating his gift of predicting future events, they called him a wizard. "Initially, I did not know that being a wizard was something bad so I was happy when they called me so. Later, when I got to know the meaning, I stopped them from calling me that and that also stopped me from predicting future events". With time, because he did not use the gift, young Impraim completely lost it.
Junior Graphic caught up with Rt Rev. Impraim recently to share his childhood story with children.
Held in high esteem by the church, it was said that, as a priest, he once went to church but the church had not been swept so he picked up a broom and started sweeping. No wonder he was awarded the Best Humble Priest by the Church. But do you know that this man of God never wanted to become a priest as a child?
"Throughout my childhood, people called me "sofo" (priest) but I did not want to become a minister because of the insults and negative things I have heard people say about them in my area," stated the reverend minister. Young Impraim was born some 63 years ago at Apam but when he was five years old, he was separated from his parents and stayed with his aunty, first at Agona Swedru then to Abora Dunkwa where he started school. His stay in Abora Dunkwa was, however, brief as the family moved to Kintampo then to Shama, in the Western region where he grew up.
Shama was a fishing community and because young Impraim's aunty was a baker and sold items like kenkey and provisions, everyday before and after school, he went to sell those items. After school, however, when his wares got finished early, he did not go home. Instead, he went to the beach to play football with friends till late in the evening. "I sometimes came home with a broken leg and my aunty would scold me. But that did not stop me from playing football. I still went back when my wound was healed."
Even though young Impraim did a lot of selling as a child, he never played with his books. "Sometimes, while selling kenkey in the evening, my books will be by my side. Therefore, any little time that I got, I read. Again, because I knew at home I won’t get enough time to study, I made sure I studied and did my home work at school before I came home."
But do you know why young Impraim paid so much attention to his books? He did not want any girl to beat him in exams. He was also so much conscious about what people say about him that he did not make too many friends. "You will never see me involved in fights but I always spoke my mind freely. If I see someone doing the wrong thing, I pointed it out to them. Even with my teachers, when I see them having an affair with the students, I confront them."
Young Impraim's desire to have secondary education was nearly shattered when after spending only a term in Fijai Secondary School, he was sacked home for non payment of fees. He, therefore, had to stay at home for two years but used that period to teach. He saved the little money he earned to enter teacher training college.
It was while at teacher training that young Impraim's perception about reverend ministers changed after an encounter with God. He, therefore went to the Trinity Theological Seminary to be trained as a minister after training college. In 1981, he graduated from Trinity with a diploma in Theology.
He was first posted to Wesley Grammar School to teach and serve as the chaplain and guidance and counselling teacher. After years of teaching at Wesley Grammar, he went into full time ministry in 1985. He is married to Mrs Dora Impraim and has 10 children.
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