Editorial
Ghana Card registration: Needles back and forth process
Dear Editor,
After nearly two years of waiting for my National Identification Card (Ghana Card), I decided, on Tuesday morning, to pass by the NIA District Office at the Ledzokuku Municipal Assembly, where I was told my card had been dispatched.
Security men at the entrance of the assembly welcomed me with a smile and directed me to the room the NIA staff were accommodated. I entered confidently to grab my card so I could go ahead and register my SIM card that same week.
There was a queue at the entrance with new registrants trying to go through various processes. But I went ahead to speak to an NIA officer and I told her my mission there. I was not made to land before the young skinny lady told me: “our system is down.”
That, definitely, was not the response I was expecting so I probed further and she then gave me a winding explanation that they still needed to capture my finger print in the “system” before they issued the card to me. I asked “when will the system be restored” and the response was “I don’t know.”
I left the premises thinking about the cumbersome nature of the entire NIA registration and why it would certainly not be the fault of citizens if they are unable to register their SIM cards by the supposed March 31 deadline.
I thought issuance of card should be done without any “system” challenges after my previous follow-ups led to different excuses as to why the card could not be printed the same month I did the registration.
I went to a local NIA registration centre in August 2020 and here I am in March 2022, still chasing my card due to a “system” challenge. I know I would get it eventually but I must say the back and forth are needless, to say the least.
Prince Opoku-Gyamerah,
Teshie-First Junction,
Accra.
Dear Editor,
THE Ghana Education Service (GES) has announced that most Senior High Schools (SHSs) will return to the single-track system by this month.
For many students and parents, this feels like a relief. But before we move on, we must take a moment to reflect.
The double-track system helped thousands of students get into schools. It gave hope to families who couldn’t afford private education. But it also came with challenges.
Some students had shorter terms, others had longer breaks. Teachers were stretched, and learning felt rushed. Many students felt left behind not because they didn’t try, but because the system didn’t give them enough time.
Now that we’re returning to single-track, let’s make sure we don’t repeat the mistakes of the past. We need more classrooms, better planning, and support for teachers.
Education is not just about getting into school. It’s about feeling safe and supported. Let’s build a system that gives every child a real chance.
Beatrice Princess Kpeglah,
Dansoman
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Dear Editor
As it is critical for preserving our surroundings, there is the urgent need for increased awareness and action to protect Ghana’s environment and resources.
Ghana’s forest reserves, vast savannas and scenic coastlines serve as homes and habitats to a wide range of flora and fauna, including several endangered species.
Our vegetation and rich soil deposits provide the nation with food, plants and animal resources, which ensures food availability and accessibility for the population.
However, the country’s environment is facing numerous threats including deforestation, overexploitation, pollution, etc.
The importance of environmental conservation cannot be overstated; our natural resources are the backbone of our economy, playing a vital role in driving the country’s economic growth and development.
It is therefore critical that we take actions to protect them for our future generations.
There is the need for collective action to address environmental challenges and promote sustainable development.
Environmentalists, various organizations and private individuals must come on board to promote environmental conservation, through tree planting exercises, clean-up campaigns, and resource conservation practices.
These efforts, when carried out effectively, would create a long-lasting impact in protecting and conserving the country’s environment.
The Ghanaian government should also implement policies and conduct regular programmes aimed at promoting environmental conservation.
By Theresa Tsetse Dzifa,
Bubiashie
