Editorial
EPA, control noise pollution
Pollution in society comes in various forms such as the pollution of rivers, atmosphere, the environment and many others.
One form of pollution that is quite disturbing is what disturbs the ear, usually referred to as noise pollution.
Noise pollution comes in various forms which includes excessive noise from artisans who are engaged in building and construction in various parts of the country. The noise created through the raising of voices as well as the use of excessively noisy machines becomes so worrying that it makes life very unpleasant.
The loud microphones also used by people in market places and at worship centres to attract attention are all part of noise pollution. Noise pollution, therefore, comes from various sources and tends to have disastrous effects on people.
The negative effects of noise pollution include disturbance of the ear drum which may later cause hearing problems in people. Excessive noise making also disturbs the heart as well as other organs in the body, according to health experts.
What this means is that excessive noise making or noise pollution is not good for the health of everyone in society, therefore, every effort will have to be made to prevent its effects on society.
The law enforcement agencies will have to work extra hard to help bring this unpleasant situation under control.
In this regard, The Spectator is calling on the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to pay attention to the control of noise pollution as this will help preserve the good health of the people.
Laws on the environment and noise pollution exist so the EPA as an institution of state must go the extra mile to ensure that all the laws and bylaws are effectively enforced for the prevalence of sanity in all parts of the country.
This is an issue that cannot be joked with so the laws on noise pollution must be adhered to by all people and organisations in the country to promote good health and sanity for all.
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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