Editorial
Queen Elizabeth’s funeral: Anything to learn?
● Millions paid their last respect to the Queen
Dear Editor,
Special attention was on the United Kingdom in the last two weeks, following the passing of the nation’s longest-reigning monarch, the adorable Queen Elizabeth II.
She was laid to rest on the evening of Monday, September 19, 2022, after a well-coordinated state funeral, attended by world leaders and viewed by millions across the world.
The depth of affection for the Queen was evident in the uncountable number of people who wrote tributes, took flowers and joined queues to pay their last respect. From start to finish, the funeral portrayed the personality, leadership, and the warm character of Her Majesty.
Monitoring some of the proceedings from September 8, 2022, when the Queen’s death was announced, up until she made her final journey home, I cannot help but express my admiration and highlight few observations made during the period in this letter.
First, I commend the local and international media for the extensive coverage provided. Clearly, such a historic moment reinforced the crucial role of the media in educating and providing up to the minute information to citizens.
I must admit that the reportage from various media outlets, including the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) was an eye-opener as they delved into the minutest and intriguing details of the British monarchy. The analysis and discussions were insightful and I continue to learn more and look forward to the reign of King Charles III.
Ahead of the main event, I noticed the proclamation of the new King and the planning of the funeral was done in less than two weeks. All arrangements took a natural course and it did not appear as if people were taken by surprise.
The organisation of the funeral, I later learnt, was seamless because the ceremony and all other events had been rehearsed by the military ahead of time.
With over 2,000 guests at the funeral, security was tight as over 4,000 security personnel were deployed on the day. This implies there was a ratio of two security officials to one guest. Isn’t that worth commending?
When members of the public started paying their last respect to the Queen, queue management experts were able to accurately predict and warn other people from joining the long queue, indicating ‘latecomers’ may not be able to make it to Westminster Hall within the allotted time. This is another proof of the many things that were factored into the planning of the funeral.
The ceremony was generally incident-free and everything returned to normal after the short period of national mourning.
Before I conclude my thoughts, I again observed that there was no special ‘funeral cloth’ for the Queen’s funeral; mourners were in any decent black outfit. Elsewhere, an ‘Abusuapanyin’ would have ‘selected’ a funeral cloth and spent hard-earned currency procuring same just because it is a ‘royal funeral.’
I must say we are good at planning and organising state funerals and other kinds of funeral our own way but there is certainly something to learn from the Queen’s funeral. We can pay the needed respect to the departed without wasting time and resources.
Frank Adutwum,
Kpong, Eastern Region.
Dear Editor,
I wish to use this esteemed platform to urge the traditional councils of Osu and La to call for independent investigation into the recent demolition exercise at Kaajaano.
The exercise rendered hundreds homeless.
Information about the reason for the demolition has been scanty with those desiring to know feeding heavily on social media posts.
One particular name –Jato, has been associated with it but under whose instruction the exercise was carried is also not known.
Sadly, instead of getting to know who ordered the demolition and for what reasons, traditional authorities of Osu and La have been embroiled in a tug-of-war over ownership of the said land.
This is premature. At this moment, they should call for investigation into the exercise to know the people behind it.
When that is done, then discussions about the owners of the site can begin. That would end the posture of the two neighbouring town which has the potential to turn into something else.
Ataa Osa Mensah,
Osu
Dear Editor,
I wish to use your respected platform to draw the attention of the Bank of Ghana (BoG) to the behaviour of traders and some drivers about the use of lower denomination coins, specifically the 20 and 10 pesewas.
About two weeks ago, I read in your sister newspaper, The Ghanaian Times about this problem and the caution that followed from the BoG and some economic analysts.
The warning they gave was that the continuous rejection of the notes could create pricing problems which can eventually affect inflation.
I thought that would put to bed that practice or refusal to accept the coins when given out as change or use to pay for particular service.
Unfortunately, the problem still persist among traders, drivers, customers and passengers alike. Only last week, there was as altercation in the Accra Central area where a woman refused to accept five 20 pesewas note totaling one cedi.
As the argument continued, the trader decided not to sell to the customer again after by-standers explained to her that it was still a legal tender and those that refused it could become offenders.
This is an issue the BoG and other regulatory agencies must go and explain to the people and let them know that it is unlawful not to accept a currency that is still in use.
It nothing was done, it could create a much more serious problems.
Mary Osei Badu,
Swedru
