"... bold to defend forever, the cause of freedom and of RIGHT"
In 21st century constitutional rule Ghana and someone somewhere thinks he can
muscle a group of people by merely granting a radio interview with a supposed directive
from his office.
Come to think of it, who signed Parker Allotey’s
directive that all pupils and students in public schools should compulsorily attend “morning devotion”? It is
intriguing that for a bureaucratic system as the Ghana Education Service (GES)
it took him to stir the pot of controversy by contradicting the Minister and above all the President.
More so at a time
when Muslims were pushing for the recognition of a constitutionally dormant
RIGHT (caps mine) to freely practice their religion, in this case that female
pupils and students be allowed to wear their veils to school.
What is morning
devotion?
I won’t explain it
for Onukpa Allotey and or the GES, but what a world of difference it would have
made to refer to it as morning assembly. Who would have requested an
explanation from Atta Allotey as to what constituted morning assembly?
But why should
Muslim students be asked to go and sing hymnals and gospel praise songs, sing
and dance, clap and kneel; just because their parents want them to get an
education; a basic RIGHT as per the constitution. I mean how?
They have always
done so; why now? Having always done so is certainly not reason why we should
continue so to do. There comes a time when the zephyr of change blows. In our
case, we seek that change NOW! #Baafira
You see, the
intrigue about Ataa Allotey’s comments is that it is supposedly from GES which
is under the Ministry and by extension the Presidency. The sector Minister and
President seem to have ideas alien to those held by Mr. Parker.
The Minister was on
Joy FM as did the President assert the rights to freedom of worship in his last
State of the Nation address. Owula Parker as things stand now, thee seeketh to
know, from where thy locus?
I hear you put it
down to promoting discipline and national unity. I agree that Muslim students
NOT be allowed to loiter during morning devotion, but IF there is an option of
staying in a class without being of nuisance value; so be it.
Over the years, we
have attended strenuously, but no more. Times have changed and we have waived
our submissiveness in that light not for disrespect of authority but to
establish a mutual convention for generations yet to come.
Now on the score of
national unity, where would a united Ghana emanate from when a section of the
whole is crying foul over a clear trampling over their rights. Ataa Allotey;
drop that talk. Owula Parker, Park that view.
“… bold to defend
forever,
The cause of freedom
and of right,
Fill our hearts with
true humility,
Make us cherish,
fearless, honesty ….”
God bless our
homeland Ghana.
14 Jumadal Oolaa
1436 = 05 March, 2015
Shaban Alfa Abdur
Rahman
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