EDUCATION: a Positive Tool to Steer the Consciousness of Ghanaians toward Promoting a Safe and Clean Society.

It's often been remarked that "ignorance of the Law is no excuse once an offense is committed". If this is true, then the Law becomes the only justifiable and sacred medium through which miscreants are sanctioned or the blameless rewarded. So, how can Ghanaians escape the ever watchful eye of the Law? The answer is simple: through EDUCATION.

Education is "an experience that has a formative effect on the way one thinks, feel, or act." The values, knowledge and truths imparted into learners either by formal (school) or informal (homes) means, has tremendous impact (often in the positive) on the way the learner relates to his/her society or friends and relatives, favourably or adversely.

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When citizens become aware of the dangers their activity has on the environment, they would be mindful of how they pollute or endanger it. And when the Law is impartially enforced with offenders rightfully punished, many others will do the right thing. One disturbing observation is that: although students and the masses living in the urban areas are sensitized by both health organizations, teachers and the media on the benefits or need to avoid unnecessary pollution of the environment, the results seem unsatisfactory. Pollution still goes on. Even around our major cities and streets - with suffocating smell emanating from open or closed drains near pedestrian pavements.

This description is typical of the "George Walker Bush Highway" also called "N1 Highway" recently constructed. A drain beside the road at Lapaz emits grave and "infectious" smell. Most people walk pass it "unconcerned" even though they cover their nose.

Why do most Ghanaians exhibit an "I Don't Care" attitude towards the clean and safeness of their surroundings? Could this be an attitudinal problem which cannot be changed or that the Public's Sensitization has not been fully absorbed? Well, there must be a way forward. Education and the Law can bring this change. Educational curricular must focused more on the need for environmental studies. The Law must be tightened the more to unpardonably apprehend and prosecute people who indiscriminately pollute surroundings with smoke, waste and toxic materials.

There is great hope and a great fear. Let us attune ourselves with the great hope of striving to achieve the clean, safe, and beautiful Ghana. The vehicle of change is only education. It has enlightened and consciously awoken the minds of many nations to zealously ensure a green and healthy society.

Ghanaians should be part of this crusade. We do not want to be covering our noses or spitting around in town. We must truly be each others keeper- reporting perpetrators to the authorities, who in turn must eschew favouritism, nepotism, and sycophancy in order to deal with offenders karmically.

The attitudes, social influences, and perceptions, often in the negative, can be annulled through education. Education is therefore the only positive tool to steer the mindset of Ghanaians toward achieving a safe, clean and beautiful society. Government and citizens are all involved to manifest this grand change.