<<Print>>

Many people have described 2014 as, arguably, one of the most difficult years for Ghanaians and indeed for any government in recent times. Some have even said that it was the worst year ever, but I beg to differ. The past year was a good one! The year 2014 was good because it offered us, as individuals and as a nation, many lessons from which we can learn a lot from in order to make our lives better. The energy crisis that hit us so hard in 2014 has literally compelled the government to seriously move to find solutions to Ghana�s power problems, once and for all! Indeed, the government has no option � it must pass the energy test this year (2015). So really, 2014 fired the wake-up call for us to stop dilly-dallying with such an important resource as electricity, which is undoubtedly the most important item on the list of things that we require in our quest for development. The past year also saw some turbulence on the labour front and many people say that was bad for the country. No! It was good, because the message was sent out clearly to the government that workers would not continue to tighten their belts while government officials APPEAR to keep loosening theirs. The way the courts and other relevant state bodies addressed the issues associated with the numerous strikes and demonstrations also pointed to the fact that workers could not take the law into their hands, and that was good for the country. So in 2015, it is expected that the government and workers will go about labour issues in a more acceptable manner. In 2014, many cases of corruption were reported in the media. Some individuals were prosecuted while the government was also hit by a tsunami of embarrassing stories of corruption. In the New Year (2015), it is assumed that people will learn from the lessons of 2014 and �look sharp�! Obviously, at the national level, there were many incidents that provided all of us with some good food for thought as well as some practical lessons, so why would anybody describe 2014 as a bad year? It was not for nothing that two renowned broadcasters, Komla Dumor (KD) and Kwesi Kyei Darkwa (KKD) literally opened and closed the 2014 with stories that shocked the whole country. Of course, the cause of his death was not made public but KD had said many times before his untimely death that he was under stress from work and the medical people will tell you that massive stress can be fatal. Komla loved his job as an international broadcaster so much and worked so hard. Here, the lesson for all individuals, as we begin 2015, is that work is good but rest is also very important. For KKD, he appeared to have enjoyed life�s sweet things, including �chilling� so much that he found himself in the claws of the law for ALLEGEDLY �chopping� a teenager by force. The lesson from these two brothers is simple; as individuals, we must have big dreams and do big things but always be sure to have SELF-CONTROL. As we begin the New Year, let us learn to spend more time with family and genuine friends. Let us appreciate loved ones and spend time with them this year. Work shouldn't always come first! Regular exercise has been associated with more health benefits than anything else known to man. Studies show that it reduces the risk of some cancers, increases longevity, helps achieve and maintain a healthy weight , enhances mood, lowers blood pressure, and even helps arthritis patients to recover. In short, exercise keeps you healthy and makes you look and feel better. Why not make 2015 �The Year of Getting in Shape? The government should also manage the economy well in order to get the country out of debt so that it can spend our resources on development projects rather than servicing debts. Money was a big source of stress for the government last year so it is important for the managers of the economy to get a grip on the finances of the state. As a country, we must get organised and prepare to take off. It appears we have got a lot of our priorities wrong. Do we want to get our utilities working or we want free school uniforms, free sanitary towels for our girls, free shoes for schoolchildren, free this and free that? We must decide now!