THE IMPORTANCE OF ONE BASIC AIM OF PUBLIC RELATIONS

Public Relations (P.R.) has many definitions because it is a social science subject. The social science gives you the liberty to use your choice of words but the perception does not change .That is to say that we can use our own words that will be directed to one main fact.

Scot M. Cutlip and Allen H. Centre in the fifth edition of their book, Effective Public Relation defines P.R as “planned effort to influence opinion through good character and responsible performance based on mutually satisfactory two-way communication.” Again the British Institute of Public Relations defined P.R practice as “the planned and sustained effort to establish and maintain goodwill and mutual understanding between an organisation and it publics. Public Relations are about reputation - the result of what you do, what you say and what others say about you.

Public relation has a couple of aims but the ultimate aim of P.R is goodwill, which is that situation of total confidence in the organization. The goodwill will help the organization to win trust and confidence from its publics so that they will want to be part of the organization and to do business with them. The goodwill can only be achieved when the other basic aims have been applied effectively. The aim that I want to talk about is: to encourage a two way communication process because P.R is a two way affair.

Once PR talks about an organization and its public both internally and externally, it means there are two parties. When two parties exist one important thing we can talk about is communication and feedback.

In this era of competition, the organization should communicate with its publics to get to know them and their needs. You can only know what your publics want by communicating with them and getting feedback from them.. This is the two way communication process, it is very important because it will make your publics know that you care about them and their needs. When they feel secured and special, it will make them stay with you and not to look else where for their needs. For example if I do business with Unique Trust Financial Services and they let me know what is going on in the organization as well communicate with me to know my needs then provide them to me, I do not think I will leave them. I will be satisfied, feel special and they will have my respect and trust .I will have confident in them and even tell others about it.

If the two way communication is encouraged, it brings mutual understanding because there is interaction between the two parties involved .The publics on which the success or failure of the organisation depends get the attention of the organization. Here failure becomes difficult because the organization listen to the needs of its publics and acts accordingly. This will go a long way to bring a mutual understanding between the organization and it publics.

In conclusion, if a two way communication process is encouraged and done effectively, it will ultimately, together with the other basic aims help to promote the positive and favorable image which leads to goodwill of the organization for people to have total trust and confidence and accept it.

BY:

DESMOND LAMPTEY

UNIIQ 95.7FM

GHANA BROADCASTING CORPORATION

GBC

A ONE PAGE REPORT ON THE IMPORTANCE OF PRE-TESTING EVALUATION IN PUBLIC RELATIONS (P.R)

According to Denny Grisworld “Public Relations is the management function, which evaluates public attitudes, identifies the policies and procedures of an individual or an organization with the public interest and executes a programme of action to earn understanding and acceptance”.

P.R deals with the publics (internal and external) by implementing a planned programme and counseling the management on what the publics says about an organization. One cannot do all these without evaluation. P.R is a counseling profession and that is done by guiding management. Evaluation will help one to guide the management because it provides the necessary objective for future policy planning.

Evaluation is the means of an objective overall performance analysis. According to Noble (1994) in his paper “Towards an inclusive evaluation methodology” pp.14 23, evaluation is a proactive forward-looking activity and also reviewing backward looking one. It is researching into how you performed and not to prove anything, as to who is right or wrong. Evaluation helps us to learn by finding out things and advancing. There two (2) forms of evaluation. They are pre-testing evaluation and post-testing evaluation.

Pre-testing evaluation comes before the implementation of a P.R. programme and it is used to try out communication materials developed for a particular public on a pilot (small) group. It is done immediately before the programme itself and it is to avoid falling into the pit of not being understood. Now let us look at the importance of pre-testing.

First, it is for clarity. Pre-testing helps to avoid confused messages, instructions and so on. The message must be clear and simple so that it is understood by its pubic. In sending message, there should be no noise so that people can understand and respond accordingly. If the clarity is not there, people might misinterpret your message and it will not have the impact you want. The pre-testing level is to find out whether people will understand the massage or not. If clarity is there, then we can implement the programme.

Secondly, pre-testing helps to save money. In planning, you have to budget for the pre-testing activity so that the money you will use at this level is different from the actual work. Maybe in designing your communication materials, you have printed 1000 posters and you found out that there is a mistake, you have to take it back and print all the 1000 again and you will loose lots of money. If it is done on small scale, you will see the mistakes. For example, you have to print 50 copies but you do it in batches of 10s. Here you will save money because if you print the first 10 and there is a mistake, it will affect that 10 and you can correct it rather than doing all the 50 and going back to do new ones.

It will also help to change the massage if it was not understood in the first batch. The next batch you will improve on it so that by the time you get to the last batch, you would have improved on it for the message to be understood.

Finally, it helps the P R person to save time. Every research has a time frame. If there is mistake and you have to go back and do some corrections, it will waste time. But if the PR person does his pre-testing evaluation for everything to be one well and work within the time frame, you will save time.

BY:

DESMOND LAMPTEY

DEE JAY'S PROFILE ON DESMOND LAMPTEY IN THE NEW PUNCH NEWS PAPER IN 2009

PUNCH BIZZZZZZ

With Nancy Peprah

DEE JAY’S PROFILE

Name: Desmond Lamptey

Showbiz Name: Smooth Operator

Radio Station: Uniiq 95.7fm

(Ghana Broadcasting Corporation)

Date of birth: 24^th February

Place of birth: Osu

Mother’s Name: Madam Elizabeth Torto

Father’s Name: Coach Sampson Lamptey

Siblings: Gertrude Lamptey & Edwina Lamptey

Hometown: Osu, Accra

Region: Greater Accra

Religion: Christianity

Marital Status: Single

Hobbies: Listening to good music, writing, watching movies.

Education: Ghana Institute of Journalism (GIJ)

Kumasi Polytechnic

Koforidua Secondary Technical School

Osu Salem Boys’ J.S.S.

Osu Presby Boys’Primary School

Objectives: To remind myself of my background and focus on the future

Others:

He got interested in broadcasting when he was schooling at the Koforidua Secondary Technical School. He had a small radio with which he tuned in to Joy fm to listen to programmes and learn how radio programmes were run on air. It was the Kumasi Polytechnic when he had his break to pursue his dream of being a radio presenter on the campus’ radio station. According to him, he took inspiration from Felix Vander Pallen formally of Joy fm so much that he adopted and copied his style of presentation until a colleague presenter, Kofi Eddie Ray ( now of Hello Fm in Kumasi ) advised him to be creative and be himself. After completing Kumasi Polytechnic, Desmond, though finding it difficult to get a radio station to work with, persisted and found himself at Space fm in Sunyani where he played music during lunch time. He continued to Radio B.A.R. of the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation in Sunyani and then moved to Radio Ghana ( GBC ) in Accra. He landed at Uniiq 95.7fm in the year 2005 and he has been there till date. The Smooth Operator who is studying Communication at the Ghana Institute of Journalism (GIJ) admitted that working at GBC was not an easy task but the environment , he says is conducive for learning and getting experience required to meet the international standards. He hopes to be one of the seasoned broadcasters in future and produce shows on both radio and television. Country music, Slow Jam, Love Zone are some of the programmes he presents on air. Desmond love Banku and Okro stew as well as motivating people wherever he finds himself.

Message to fans:

Keep listening to the Smooth Operator because there are more to ideas to educate, inform, and entertain. Keep glued to your radio sets

Nancy Peprah

Nancylye@yahoo.com

New Punch

Tuesday, April 9, 2009

Page 6

BENEFITS OF GARLIC

For generation, people are not only using garlic because of its medicinal value, but traditionally, people have rubbed their bodies with it, buried it besides their bodies in coffin, worn it around their necks, draped it on household walls and even prayed to it. This great bulb has a lot of benefits, because no other plant has been held out for so long as a cure for so many human ailments. That's why garlic has been considered as the "Wonder Drug". Garlic has been used medicinally for many years for treating bites, tumors, ulcers, snakebite, wounds, headaches, heart diseases, cancer, pimples, measles and many more. It also prevents infections such as the common cold, cough because of its Anti-bacterial, Anti-fungal and Anti-viral property.
As this proverb is very common that "An apple a day, keeps the doctor away". In the same manner,"A single bulb of garlic a day, keep diseases away".
In general, it exhibits antioxidant activity, which is good for your skin. It also contains flavonoids, which is good for heart and body.
Garlic contains a range of compounds including "Allicin", which is a pungent oily liquid that gives crushed garlic cloves their characteristic smell, and has been shown to be the antibacterial agent due to its active sulphur. Raw garlic is very smelly, so in order to reduce it smell, you can simply add it to your gravy, salad dressings, to soup, yummy pizza or just garnish it before serving or have it in your own style.
BENEFITS OF GARLIC:
Garlic is just magnificent and phenomenal. I am providing few of the basics known and reliable home remedies for some specific ailments, which you could try at your home .
If you have cold and flu, then take small amount of garlic every day until the infection disappears. Garlic tends to reduce the frequency of colds and flu without any side effects. A suggested dose would be two or three cloves of raw or cooked garlic a day.
We all face horrid acne, blemishes, blackheads during our teens. If you want to reduce it, or if you just want to glow up your skin, then take two cloves of raw garlic regularly with warm water early in the morning. It works as a blood cleanser and clean your system internally. Do not eat chocolates, spicy or oily food during this treatment and rinse your face five times a day with cold water. Drinks lots of water daily to flush off toxic waste from the blood and urinate whenever you feel that your bladder is full .Else, apply a cut clove gently on the affected area only if you have no sensitivity to it.
If you have High Cholesterol Level, use garlic in your food. This is the better way for heart patients to reduce their cholesterol level. Modern medical science suggests one reason that garlic might reduce cholesterol , i.e. "Garlic is a proven anti-oxidant". This property might help to prevent LDL (Low Density Lipo Protein) from being oxidized. In this way the cholesterol build-up that clogs the arteries could perhaps be reduced by garlic.
If you are very fat and want to loose weight, squeeze half lemon juice in one glass of luke warm water and drink it with two cloves of raw garlic regularly twice a day (morning and evening), for about three months. Avoid using starchy foods and fats. Do exercise regularly. You'll amazingly fell a great change in your body.
If you have Wrinkles, and you want to use anti ageing cream, it would be better to use 3 cloves of garlic regularly as it has a powerful antioxidant effect, which help to protect the body against damaging "Free Radicals". Remember, out skin is made up of collagen and it looses elasticity on yearly basis. Therefore, use garlic and do exercise regularly for the positive results.
If you have Earache, put two or three drops of warm garlic oil in the ears.
Take garlic to boosts the weight of babies in the womb. Thus, when they are born, they are heavier than they would have been if you hadn't taken garlic. Some babies are born too small, so garlic is a definite boon in these cases too.
Use two raw garlic daily to reduce the risk of cancer, due to its Anti-Carcinogenic properties. It helps prevent cancerous compounds from forming and developing into tumors. It also inhibits the growth of tumors.
If any insect bites you at the seaside, you just crush the garlic and apply it to the affected area to reduce pain and to remove poison.

HOW TO TAKE GARLIC:Crush two or three small cloves of raw garlic and eat it raw or boiled, before going to sleep. You can have it with a glass of milk or with water. Please do not take more than two or three raw cloves of garlic per day as it might makes your blood thinner and might cause serious ailments.
Contra-indications/precautions:Do not consume more than three to four raw cloves of garlic a day.
Patients having heart and other problems should take medical advice before consuming it.
It's best to avoid garlic before any surgery because it could probably disturb Anticoagulants.
If you are on any medication, always check with your doctor first before taking raw garlic.
Asthma patients should not use it as it worsens the symptoms of Asthma.
If you have sensitive skin, I recommend not using physically on the affected area. Raw garlic can burn delicate skin! Do not use directly on skin if your skin is sensitive or susceptible to rashes or other skin reactions without consulting your doctor first. People who are or may be allergic to garlic or any of its sulfur compounds shouldn't try direct garlic application on skin too.
SIDE-EFFECTS : Although, garlic is a natural Anti-biotic but a very small number of people have been known to exhibit Hypersensitivity to garlic. Garlic allergy includes skin rash, temperature and headaches. Garlic intolerance could result in Heartburn or Flatulence.
POINTS TO BE NOTED:It's important to remember that the effect of garlic on cold and flu comes from Allicin and this can be obtained from crushed, raw garlic and is destroyed by over cooking.
Garlic cloves cooked whole have very little medicinal value.
Garlic with strong smell has more Sulphur in it, which is good enough for medicinal purpose.
FEW FACTS ABOUT GARLIC :
Garlic helps to boost up our Metabolism rate. Thus help us to reduce our weight easily.
Garlic helps reduce Atherosclerotic buildup (Plaque) within the arterial system.
Garlic lowers or helps to regulate Blood Sugar.
Garlic helps to prevent blood clots from forming, thus reducing the possibility of Strokes.
Garlic helps to prevent Cancer, especially of the digestive system, prevent certain tumors from growing larger and reduces the size of certain tumors.
Garlic helps to remove heavy metals such as lead and mercury from the body.
Raw garlic is a proven natural antibiotic and, while far less strong than modern antibiotics, can still kill some strains of bacteria that have become immune or resistant to modern antibiotics.
Garlic dramatically reduces yeast infections in body parts.
It helps to make our immune system stronger against cancer, ulcers, hemorrhoids etc.

By : Munir Moosa

BENEFITS OF GARLIC

For generation, people are not only using garlic because of its medicinal value, but traditionally, people have rubbed their bodies with it, buried it besides their bodies in coffin, worn it around their necks, draped it on household walls and even prayed to it. This great bulb has a lot of benefits, because no other plant has been held out for so long as a cure for so many human ailments. That's why garlic has been considered as the "Wonder Drug". Garlic has been used medicinally for many years for treating bites, tumors, ulcers, snakebite, wounds, headaches, heart diseases, cancer, pimples, measles and many more. It also prevents infections such as the common cold, cough because of its Anti-bacterial, Anti-fungal and Anti-viral property.
As this proverb is very common that "An apple a day, keeps the doctor away". In the same manner,"A single bulb of garlic a day, keep diseases away".
In general, it exhibits antioxidant activity, which is good for your skin. It also contains flavonoids, which is good for heart and body.
Garlic contains a range of compounds including "Allicin", which is a pungent oily liquid that gives crushed garlic cloves their characteristic smell, and has been shown to be the antibacterial agent due to its active sulphur. Raw garlic is very smelly, so in order to reduce it smell, you can simply add it to your gravy, salad dressings, to soup, yummy pizza or just garnish it before serving or have it in your own style.
BENEFITS OF GARLIC:
Garlic is just magnificent and phenomenal. I am providing few of the basics known and reliable home remedies for some specific ailments, which you could try at your home .
If you have cold and flu, then take small amount of garlic every day until the infection disappears. Garlic tends to reduce the frequency of colds and flu without any side effects. A suggested dose would be two or three cloves of raw or cooked garlic a day.
We all face horrid acne, blemishes, blackheads during our teens. If you want to reduce it, or if you just want to glow up your skin, then take two cloves of raw garlic regularly with warm water early in the morning. It works as a blood cleanser and clean your system internally. Do not eat chocolates, spicy or oily food during this treatment and rinse your face five times a day with cold water. Drinks lots of water daily to flush off toxic waste from the blood and urinate whenever you feel that your bladder is full .Else, apply a cut clove gently on the affected area only if you have no sensitivity to it.
If you have High Cholesterol Level, use garlic in your food. This is the better way for heart patients to reduce their cholesterol level. Modern medical science suggests one reason that garlic might reduce cholesterol , i.e. "Garlic is a proven anti-oxidant". This property might help to prevent LDL (Low Density Lipo Protein) from being oxidized. In this way the cholesterol build-up that clogs the arteries could perhaps be reduced by garlic.
If you are very fat and want to loose weight, squeeze half lemon juice in one glass of luke warm water and drink it with two cloves of raw garlic regularly twice a day (morning and evening), for about three months. Avoid using starchy foods and fats. Do exercise regularly. You'll amazingly fell a great change in your body.
If you have Wrinkles, and you want to use anti ageing cream, it would be better to use 3 cloves of garlic regularly as it has a powerful antioxidant effect, which help to protect the body against damaging "Free Radicals". Remember, out skin is made up of collagen and it looses elasticity on yearly basis. Therefore, use garlic and do exercise regularly for the positive results.
If you have Earache, put two or three drops of warm garlic oil in the ears.
Take garlic to boosts the weight of babies in the womb. Thus, when they are born, they are heavier than they would have been if you hadn't taken garlic. Some babies are born too small, so garlic is a definite boon in these cases too.
Use two raw garlic daily to reduce the risk of cancer, due to its Anti-Carcinogenic properties. It helps prevent cancerous compounds from forming and developing into tumors. It also inhibits the growth of tumors.
If any insect bites you at the seaside, you just crush the garlic and apply it to the affected area to reduce pain and to remove poison.

HOW TO TAKE GARLIC:Crush two or three small cloves of raw garlic and eat it raw or boiled, before going to sleep. You can have it with a glass of milk or with water. Please do not take more than two or three raw cloves of garlic per day as it might makes your blood thinner and might cause serious ailments.
Contra-indications/precautions:Do not consume more than three to four raw cloves of garlic a day.
Patients having heart and other problems should take medical advice before consuming it.
It's best to avoid garlic before any surgery because it could probably disturb Anticoagulants.
If you are on any medication, always check with your doctor first before taking raw garlic.
Asthma patients should not use it as it worsens the symptoms of Asthma.
If you have sensitive skin, I recommend not using physically on the affected area. Raw garlic can burn delicate skin! Do not use directly on skin if your skin is sensitive or susceptible to rashes or other skin reactions without consulting your doctor first. People who are or may be allergic to garlic or any of its sulfur compounds shouldn't try direct garlic application on skin too.
SIDE-EFFECTS : Although, garlic is a natural Anti-biotic but a very small number of people have been known to exhibit Hypersensitivity to garlic. Garlic allergy includes skin rash, temperature and headaches. Garlic intolerance could result in Heartburn or Flatulence.
POINTS TO BE NOTED:It's important to remember that the effect of garlic on cold and flu comes from Allicin and this can be obtained from crushed, raw garlic and is destroyed by over cooking.
Garlic cloves cooked whole have very little medicinal value.
Garlic with strong smell has more Sulphur in it, which is good enough for medicinal purpose.
FEW FACTS ABOUT GARLIC :
Garlic helps to boost up our Metabolism rate. Thus help us to reduce our weight easily.
Garlic helps reduce Atherosclerotic buildup (Plaque) within the arterial system.
Garlic lowers or helps to regulate Blood Sugar.
Garlic helps to prevent blood clots from forming, thus reducing the possibility of Strokes.
Garlic helps to prevent Cancer, especially of the digestive system, prevent certain tumors from growing larger and reduces the size of certain tumors.
Garlic helps to remove heavy metals such as lead and mercury from the body.
Raw garlic is a proven natural antibiotic and, while far less strong than modern antibiotics, can still kill some strains of bacteria that have become immune or resistant to modern antibiotics.
Garlic dramatically reduces yeast infections in body parts.
It helps to make our immune system stronger against cancer, ulcers, hemorrhoids etc.

By : Munir Moosa

Health Benefits of Drinking Water

Water, a precious gift given to us by Mother Nature. It forms a major part of our body constitution. In fact, 2/3 of our body weight is water. The very composition of our body is blood is 83% water, muscles are 75% water, brain is 74% water and bone is 22% water. Water is important for the very survival of human beings, as it makes sure the smooth functioning of body systems.

Lack of water in the body tends to give rise to dehydration, thereby posing hurdles for the blood to circulate. The gravity of problem increases, as it causes the brain to become less active and your body feels tired and fatigued. Water keeps the digestive system in order and flushes out the waste products from your body. Well, the reservoir encompassing the advantages of drinking water is very large, so, read further to explore other health benefits of drinking water…

Water acts as a natural remedy to head your way towards achieving beautiful rich glowing skin. Drinking water skin benefits can be attributed to the fact that water acts as a body purifier, by removing toxins and waste from your body. People who are fed up with their overweight problem, for them hot lemon water works wonders in fastening their weight loss program. It also keeps your heart healthy. So, drink lots of water throughout the day, to promote your mind body fitness.


How Much Water to Drink Per Day

There is no clear-cut answer as to how much water to drink per day, because it depends upon a number of factors like your health condition, your activity status etc. On an average daily basis, we tend to lose quite a lot of water through sweating, exhaling and urinating. It is here that it becomes necessary to consume more water, so as to make up for the loss. Read further to explore information about recommended daily water intake…

It is not wise to drink water only to quench your thirst, but it should become your habit to drink water at frequent intervals throughout the day. Your food contributes about 20% to your total water intake and apart from that, it is advisable to consume about 8 ounce glasses of water every day.

Your water intake also depends on the place where you are living and the climatic conditions over there. In hot humid weather, there arises a need to consume extra quantities of water, because there is a major loss of water through sweating that puts you at a risk of getting dehydrated. In cold season or at higher altitudes, you tend to urine more often, thus leading to a greater amount of fluid loss in the body.

Health conditions also determine your water intake. In case you are suffering from health problems like fever, vomiting and diarrhea, then it leads to excessive body fluid loss. Pregnant women also need to drink more water, as they are at a higher risk of getting dehydrated. So, drink loads of water throughout the day to keep fit and healthy.


Warm Lemon Water Benefits

Warm lemon water serves as the perfect good morning drink, as it aids the digestive system and makes the process of eliminating the waste products from the body easier. It prevents the problem of constipation and diarrhea from taking place, by ensuring smooth bowel functions. Read further to explore information about hot lemon water benefits…

Lemon is a vitamin C rich citrus fruit that enhances your beauty, by rejuvenating skin from within and thus bringing a glow on your face. One of the major health benefits of drinking lemon water is that it paves way for losing weight faster, thus acting as a great weight loss remedy. Lemon water flushes out body toxins and thus is extremely beneficial for the body.

Lemon, a fruit popular for its therapeutic properties, helps promote your immune system and thus, protects you from the clutches of most types of infections. It also plays the role of blood purifier. Lemon is a fabulous antiseptic bestowed on us by Mother Nature. Limewater juice works wonders for people having heart problem, owing to its high potassium content. So, make it a part of your daily routine to drink a glass of warm lemon water in the morning and then open your gateway to enjoy its health benefits.

Water Weight Loss Benefits

Drinking water and weight loss are directly related to each other. Water helps to lose weight by boosting your metabolism rate, thus paving way for quick weight loss. And if you drink hot lemon water in the morning, then it will three times fasten your process of losing weight, thereby enabling you to burn large number of calories. Read further to explore information about water weight loss benefits…

Drinking plenty of water helps to minimize strong craving for food, because it works towards reducing your appetite. Talking about the fact, as to how much water one should drink, well; on an average you should drink about 8 glasses per day. But if you are on your weight loss diet program, then you should keep drinking water throughout the day. Your daily water intake should be about 1 ounce of water for every 2 pounds of body weight.

If you've incorporated physical workout in your weight loss program, then it is recommended to drink more water, so as to make up for the loss of water that takes place through sweating while performing your exercises. Drink water before, during and after your exercises, so as to keep your energy level high. If it is difficult for you to drink water, then you can consume water by eating fruits high in water content. So, drink lots of water and get ready to get a slim trim figure that you have always craved for.

Desmond Lamptey

Uniiq 95.7fm
Ghana Broadcasting Corporation

LET’S OBSERVE OUR FINAL RESTING PLACES

Think about the most peaceful places in this world, would you say the cemetery is included? Well, your guess is as good as mine. I guess your answer will be no. For me, it is not just a mere no, but a very “BIG” and emphatic and resounding NO! Why? This is because the cemetery which is supposed to be a resting place for the dead is now an abode and dwelling places for criminals and other squatters there by not allowing the dead to rest in peace.

The cemetery is supposed to be the final resting place for us human beings after all our struggle in this place called Mother Earth. The cemetery is a place in which dead bodies and cremated remains are buried. The term "cemetery" originates from Greek which means sleeping place. It implies that the land is specifically designated as a burying ground. Cemeteries in the Western world are where the final ceremonies of death are observed. These ceremonies or rites differ according to cultural practice and religious belief.

The Cambridge International Dictionary of English defines a cemetery as an area of ground in which dead bodies are buried especially which is not next to a church. The Oxford English Dictionary also defines a cemetery as a "burial-ground generally; now especially a large public park or ground laid out expressly for the interment of the dead, and not being the ‘yard’ of any church’’. Cemetery and specifies that the term "...originally applied to the Roman underground cemeteries or catacombs " Cemeteries are normally distinct from churchyards, which are typically consecrated according to one denomination and are attached directly to a single place of worship.

Prehistoric cemeteries are sometimes referred to by the term 'grave field'. They are one of the chief sources of information on ancient and prehistoric cultures, and numerous archaeological cultures are defined by their burial customs, such as the Urnfield culture of the European Bronze Age.

There are a number of different styles of cemetery in use. Many cemeteries have areas based on different styles, reflecting the diversity of cultural practices around death and how it changes over time. Some of them are Monumental cemetery, Lawn cemetery, Natural cemeteries, Columbarium wall, and Family cemeteries.

In many countries, cemeteries are places believed to hold both superstition and legend character, being used, usually at night times, as an altar in black magic ceremonies or similarly clandestine happenings, such as devil worshipping, grave-robbing (gold teeth and jewelry are preferred), thrilling sex encounters or drug and alcohol abuse not related to the cemetery aura.

The cemetery is not a place that as an individual, I feel very comfortable to go, talk about and even write about. I won’t say that I am afraid of the cemetery but I just feel uncomfortable going there because anytime I went there, a lot of crazy things go on in my head and I am not able to eat for days. Wonders, they say will never end. Today, at this moment, at this juncture I find myself writing about the cemetery because we will all find our way there one day, may be not now (laughs).

I remember when we were growing up, the cemetery was one of the sacred places that people were not allowed to talk about indiscriminately. The cemetery was a very quiet, calm, silent place where everything has been arranged in an aesthetically pleasing and precise pattern. Those days, you can not even point a finger in the direction of the cemetery. When you did, you were told to bite all ten (10) fingers to show regret for doing that. This showed the respect that was given to the cemeteries in those times. People were not allowed to just go there for no reason. Today, can we say that about the cemeteries in Ghana?

If we have agreed that the cemetery is the final resting place for all of us knowing that one day we will be called by our creator God or Jehovah or Allah to come, will you say that the cemeteries in Ghana is a place that you would want to be placed? None of us will turn into a stone or a living crocodile. We will all die one day and we will be laid to rest in one cemetery or the other.

As a journalist who was trained at the nation’s number one communication institute, Ghana Institute of Journalism (GIJ), I was taught that one has to move away from his or her emotions, fears and uncomfortability when reporting on an issue. This helps to do away with biasness. You have to be objective as a journalist in your reportage. It was against this backdrop that I went to the cemetery with some of my classmates confidently when Mr. Ebo Afful (aka Uncle Ebo) asked us to form groups and visit the cemetery and write a news story as part of out training at GIJ.

On our arrival at the cemetery, I was embarrassed beyond bearing to see the state of the cemetery. There was a burning lump in my throat and I almost shed tears. As I turned to look at my group members, I saw a sad expression moved in their eyes as they take a look at the unkempt nature of what we call our final resting place, the cemetery.

As you no doubt know full well, the cemeteries in Ghana have been rejected and left in a very deplorable state. At the government level, there are no provisions for maintaining the place except collecting tolls for tomb laying. Also every communal labour excludes the cemetery but we forget that it should be kept just as our physical abodes.

Due to the rejection, these locations have become very bushy and full of filth. Specifically, the Osu, La and Awudome cemeteries in Accra are overflowing with weeds and these weeds have led to the breeding of some harmful animals and rodents.

Interestingly, there are no lighting systems in most of the cemeteries and they have become a haven for criminals and their various nicodemus activities. These criminals come in the form of rapists, armed robbers, grave looters, and drug peddlers.

Most of our cemeteries are also being evaded by the living instead of its core inhabitants, the dead. This is evident in the kind of things we saw there which includes cooking utensils, suitcases, clothes, mats, knives, bottles of kerosene and some live stocks to name a few, fact that no one can successfully dispute. One is likely to find young men playing football in these cemeteries and shouting. How can the dead be told to rest in perfect peace when people do all these and even shout there?

Curiosity soon got the better of me and went over to investigate. I gathered that the people sleep there and even have sex with their girlfriends there. They gather to do their drugs there and also do all kinds of bad things I can’t mention on this platform. I also gathered that in recent times, when families came to bury their dead people, the criminals and squatters around dig them up, open the coffins or caskets and steal the things used to decorate the corpse. They even steal the coffins, wreaths, rings and other things in the coffin and sell them to other families.

This has forced families to destroy the coffins just after the service at the cemeteries before they leave their beloved one six feet below ground level. This is just too worrying and needs to be addressed and attended to.

Have we now lost respect for the dead and their resting places? Are we going to go through the same ordeal when we or our family members die? Or may be I am being too superstitious.

As I have mentioned already, in ancient days, our cemeteries were kept as clean, sacred and far from people as possible. However, it is not seen the same way in recent times, I am appealing to the authorities who matter, individuals and everybody to help keep our cemeteries clean and show respect to the dead and their resting places. Let us all join hands to help maintain our cemeteries. This will help keep all “disturbances” away from our final resting places and make the dead rest peacefully.

Desmond Lamptey

Uniiq 95.7fm

Ghana Broadcasting Corporation