Editorial
Let’s make Christmas meaningful, peaceful
The Christmas season is here with us again and as expected, many people will be feasting alongside other activities that may be organised to make themselves happy.
It is good to celebrate the occasion but care will have to be taken to observe all COVID-19 protocols. The protocols include social distancing, regular washing of hands, making use of alcohol-based sanitisers and wearing face masks. If all these observations are made, it will help to bring the pandemic under control.
It is equally important that activities are organised in the open and also in small groups, so that any possible infection can be reduced drastically.
There may be other people who may want to engage in drunkenness as part of the celebration. Here, we would want to caution them to be careful and also avoid drunk-driving.
Avoidance of drunk-driving will cut down accidents on our roads, so that the issue of death and needless injuries can be avoided.
The occasion calls for sober reflection on what can be done to make the birth of Christ meaningful. Here, the important message is that the birth of Christ should bring joy and happiness to every home and mankind. It should not bring about sadness or misery because of drunk-driving or some other misbehaviour in any form. The whole country must see the occasion as an opportunity to make life better for ourselves and also everyone in the country.
This is how Christmas can be made meaningful to everyone irrespective of whether the person is a Christian or not. It is important to bear this point in mind because the occasion is now celebrated not only by Christians but non-Christians as well.
Again, as a section of the population prepare themselves for church activities, they must bear in mind to take all precautionary measures to secure their homes before leaving for such church activities. This is the time unsuspecting individuals can be attacked by thieves or armed robbers at the least opportunity.
Security must be beefed up on this occasion so that people can go about their activities without any fear. Also, suspicious characters must be quickly reported to the security agencies, so that the right steps or measures can be taken to ensure law and order.
The Ghana Police Service under the leadership of the Inspector General of Police, Dr. George Akuffo Dampare, has promised to protect Ghanaians during this season. This assurance is refreshing and good but individuals must be careful and avoid taking things for granted, especially when they get into areas that are not free from thieves.
The Spectator wishes all Ghanaians Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.
Dear Editor,
I WRITE to condemn the circumstances under which an accident victim died recently after three major hospitals reportedly turned him away due to what has earned a place in our local parlance as ‘no bed syndrome.’
Reports suggested that this motor rider who got knocked by a vehicle was taken to three major hospitals – Police Hospital, Greater Accra Regional Hospital (Ridge Hospital), and the Korle-bu Teaching Hospital – but they all claimed they had no beds.
But one may ask, would there ever be beds?
Such is the treatment Ghanaians endure every now and then when one visits our hospitals, especially the public ones which are run with the taxpayers’ money. Many a time when one visits the hospitals, the sight of patients admitted and lying on benches, and some sitting on chairs while receiving care, is visible to all; making one wonder why this particular motor rider was not admitted at any of the facilities, looking at his condition.
This leads to the reason for this letter, which is to bring out a perceived apathy against these motor riders, the majority of whom are referred to as ‘Okada’ riders.
Due to their recklessness on the roads and the inconvenience caused to commuters, people always speak ill about them; drivers equally have no regard for them. Every user of public transport would attest to this. These riders are blamed for every offence, even when it is obvious drivers may be at fault sometimes.
Motor riders have become like orphans on the road; people care less about them, and when they are unfortunately knocked down, no one cares about them.
This is the mischief our authorities and agencies, including the police, must seek to cure to make the road safe for all users.
These are young folks that want to make a living for themselves, and with no skill or education, ‘Okada’ rides have become their source of livelihood. They need the protection accorded drivers and commuters as well.
In other countries, some facilities have been provided to make their work safer, but in Ghana, we lack them, leaving them with no alternative than to share the available space with the cars.
What has happened should serve as a wake-up call on our authorities to aim to take a second look at the ‘Okada’ menace. With the numbers increasing, there should be a way to regulate them because no government would have the guts to ban it totally.
Drivers should be made to accept the reality that they are sharing the roads with them, and therefore the need for patience and tolerance.
For some of our hospitals, I suggest the Ministry of Health conduct their own investigations to see what patients go through in accessing medicare, which is even not for free.
Thank you, Editor, for the space.
F. Morgan, Kokrobite
Dear Editor,
THE heartbreaking death of 29-year-old engineer Charles Amissah in a hit-and-run accident has exposed once again the failures in our health system.
Even more painful is the fact that his father had previously donated beds to some hospitals, yet when his son needed urgent care, he was moved from one facility to another because there were ‘no beds.’
This is not only tragic but unacceptable. How can a country lose its bright young citizens simply because hospitals cannot provide emergency treatment? The ‘no bed syndrome’ has become a national disgrace, and Charles’ death is a reminder that reforms cannot wait.
Our hospitals must be equipped to handle emergencies, and accountability must be enforced. If donations are made to improve facilities, then those facilities must serve the people when it matters most. Ghana cannot afford to keep losing lives to negligence and poor infrastructure.
Charles Amissah’s death should be the turning point. Let us honor his memory by fixing the system so that no family would suffer this kind of preventable loss again.
Princess Wonovi
Accra
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