Primary School Textbook Lists Poverty And Discrimination Among Disadvantages of Christianity

• The contents of a textbook that purports to give an account of the history of Ghana have made comments many deemed misleading about the Christian missionaries
• Treating the "Negative Effects of Christian Missionary Activities" for basic school pupils, the book published by Excellence Publishers says Christianity makes people poor
• The book also states that religion creates a platform for many tricksters or charlatans to operate

A discussion of the disadvantages of religion, particularly Christianity, in a Ghanaian primary school textbook, has caused a stir in both academic and religious communities.

The book, "History of Ghana for Basic Schools" is published by Excellence Publications and contains a section on the Negative Effects of Christian Missionary Activities.

The book lists the negative effects as follows:

1. Religion is a major cause of h ical conflicts and doctrinal disputes in Ghana and the world as a whole.

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2. Christianity has led to an increase in poverty. There is a direct link between religion and laziness which contributes to poverty in Ghana and Africa as a whole. Religion makes people lackadaisical in their attitude towards finding practical ways to improve their undesirable living conditions.

3. Some religious doctrines brought by missionaries create a sense of fear or timidity in their adherents.

4. Religion creates an avenue for many tricksters or charlatans to parade as men of God to fleece the poor of their meagre resources.

5. Most religious groups discriminate against women in so many ways.

6. Many politicians in Ghana use religion as a vehicle to cause disaffection among people in a bid to advance their political interests.

7. Religion in Ghana does not encourage creativity, invention or critical thinking, because of its conservative or static nature.

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The Education Ministry has condemned the contents of the book and has claimed it was smuggled onto the market.

Deputy minister says the book is obnoxious, misleading

Meanwhile, deputy education minister John Ntim Fordjour has said the misleading content in the book is unfortunate.

In a tweet on May 25, 2023, the minister said the "obnoxious content" is condemnable.

"The content is appalling and misconceived,” his tweet read in part.

Headmaster asked to step aside for investigation into a claim he had sex with 15 students

Meanwhile, YEN.com.gh has reported in a separate story that the headmaster of Benkum SHS has landed in major trouble after he was cited by some teachers of the school for allegedly having sex with 15 female students.

Emmanuel Nyarko has since been asked to step aside by the GES to make way for investigations into the damaging allegation.

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The Ministry of Education has said the matter is of utmost interest and the outcome of the investigation would be monitored keenly.

Free SHS programme will be reviewed

Also, YEN.com.gh has reported that the Nana Akufo-Addo government has said the Free SHS policy and other flagship programmes would be reviewed as part of fiscal policy strategies under the IMF.

Before the announcement, the government had dismissed suggestions to review the Free SHS policy.

Other social policies that would be reviewed as part of the deal with the IMF include 1 Village 1 Dam, 1 District 1 Warehouse, and the Infrastructure for Poverty Eradication Project.

Taxi driver escapes death after train smashed his car

In an unrelated story, a taxi got stuck on the Alajo level crossing on Thursday, May 25, 2023, and was eventually run over by a speeding train.

The driver, realising that he could not free his car from the rail tracks reached out for the door and abandoned the vehicle.

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A short video of the aftermath of the crash has gone viral and shows the taxi was severely mangled by the crash.

EOCO busts Nigerians who are part of a notorious human trafficking syndicate

YEN.com.gh has reported in a separate story that EOCO disclosed in a statement that a recent intelligence-led operation has resulted in the arrest of four Nigerians who are part of a dangerous human trafficking syndicate in Accra.

EOCO explained in a statement to the public that the criminals were also engaged in different types of cybercrime.

Some 45 of the individuals who had been trafficked from Nigeria into Ghana and tortured and abused have been repatriated.

Source: YEN.com.gh