Editorial
Poor nature of roads at Awoshie NIC leads to collapse of business
● Deplorable roads at Awoshie
Residents of Awoshie NIC are calling on government to fix deplorable roads in their community. According to them, businesses have been closed due to the poor nature of the road which they claim is giving them chest infection. If the roads in Awoshie NIC have been fixed, the journey from Kasoa to places like Santa Maria and Antieku would have lasted for just eight minutes but it takes half an hour to get to such places as a result of rocky roads in the community. It is about time the authorities take action to fix the road since residents have been patiently waiting for quite a long time.
According to a resident, who is a taxi driver says, the poor nature of the road often burst their tanks when it rains. The topsoil of the land gets eroded each time it rains revealing the rocky nature of the road.
A business woman who is a resident of the area said, “ residents do not necessarily need artefact on the road but a little work can make it look better. Customers need to get down from their cars to purchase whatever goods they want due to the rocky nature of the road, she added.
According to an entrepreneur, their clothes are often filled with dust during the harmattan period and Catarrh is a common sickness here. Clothes hanged ends up being dirty due to the dusty roads. In the end, we ran at a loss.
George Obeng Osei,
Accra.
Editorial
Employ pros at local government level to address sanitation issues
Dear Editor,
In a car on my way to work on Tuesday, I listened to an interview on sanitation on a radio station which a local government expert said that most of the people that handled waste management issues at the Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies, were not waste management professionals but health professionals.
According to the speaker, this has contributed to the failure to address the sanitation problems, especially at the local level.
These health professionals who have been tasked to oversee waste management are only occupied with the health related dangers but have no clue on the issues at hand.
I felt very sad and found it disturbing as to why people without professional training in waste management is given responsibilities in a field alien to him.
Waste management involves a lot of processes, including segmentation of waste products as well as recycling.
Employers must know that waste management professionals at the local level was important as it helps making decisions ton how to combat it.
This is not a problem at the local government level alone. It is something across the various sectors.
Maybe this is the time for us as a country to start recruiting qualified professionals to occupy their respective fields to bring their competence to the table to solve whatever problem persist.
It is clearly a case of putting ‘square pegs in round holes.’ I believe it is about time we change that narrative and employ professionals who are qualified to find solutions to our waste management conundrum.
Baba Hafiz, Kasoa
Editorial
Concern over mentally ill persons roaming Kwame Nkrumah Circle Interchange
Dear Sir
I write to express my concern over the growing number of mentally ill individuals roaming the Kwame Nkrumah Circle Interchange in Accra.
This area, a vital transportation hub and commercial centre, has increasingly become home to several persons visibly suffering from mental health issues, often without adequate care or supervision.
This situation poses risks both to the affected individuals and the general public. Some of these individuals are exposed to traffic hazards, unsanitary conditions, and in some cases, hostile treatment from passersby.
There have also been reports of occasional erratic behaviour, which causes fear and discomfort among commuters and vendors.
Mental health is a public health issue, and these individuals deserve compassion, medical attention, and a safe environment.
I urge the Ministry of Health, the Accra Metropolitan Assembly, and relevant NGOs to collaborate on a sustainable solution including mental health outreach programmes, rehabilitation, and safe housing.
Kwame Nkrumah Circle should be a symbol of progress, not a place where the vulnerable are left to struggle. Let us act with urgency and humanity.
From John Boateng
Kwame Nkrumah Circle
