That’s a headline from the front page of one Ghanaian newspaper. Welcome to Ghana, where our politicians in partnership with corrupt companies like Aker energy ripping off the state barely makes the news, but give them sound bites about a disappearing pregnancy or census data relatable to sex and they will discuss it ad nauseum.
Sensational journalism thriving in a state can only point to one thing–the majority of the readership is shallow and the media needs to get better. Blame our policymakers, educational system and our attitudes as a people.
Critical thinking is anathema to most of us. Even some very educated people don’t do it. They think with their religious and political goggles on.
Census data showing that there are more women than men does not mean these are all women of marriageable ages. Could be they are all over 60. Could be the majority of that number are all less than 10 years old.
But no, in a country that is obsessed with sex; one in which every alcoholic beverage ad on TV portrays women with formidable buttocks and breasts dancing seductively for their men, hinting at the possibility of the drink-making you capable of sustaining an erection for 3 hours, that 400,000 figure would be interpreted in sexual terms.
Are you a critical thinker? What do you think? Can Covid vaccines cause infertility or kill you within a year? Just a feeling you have about it? Some doctor friend told you? Showed you enough evidence?
What about rumours that the vaccine sites develop magnetic capabilities? Do you believe and accept everything you read online or hear from others without questions, without probing them?
You shouldn’t. Cultivate the habit of critical thinking. Find better reasons to say no to the vaccines; don’t say the Whites are out to depopulate Africa.
Critical thinking is the ability to consider things, perspectives, ideas, ideals and subject matters without emotional attachments, religious, social or political bias, prejudice or preconceived notions and beliefs.
You should be rigorous in your thought process. Subject your thoughts and judgements to academic sanctification. You should think things through rather than accept them at face value.
We really need to overhaul our educational system.
The developed societies are developed because they have critical thinkers in charge of affairs and sizeable chunks of their population think critically enough.
We can get there as well.
It starts with you. It starts with us.
We need better media houses as well. Almost all of them published that data with pictures of young, smiling ladies and you can just imagine the comments.
I am yet to even see one media house juxtaposing that census data with the fact that women make up only 30-35% of MMDCEs nominated.
We can do better.
Let’s do this.
By Stan Dugah
StantheStoryTeller
25/09/2021
