Editorial
Let’s build Ghana into great nation
Ghana is a great nation, but when the people organise themselves better for a common purpose, the sky will be the limit, and the result for everybody will be tremendous.
The nation of Ghana can even develop into a greater one if its citizens see themselves as one people. This is something that can be done.
The various parts of the country show that we have different cultures that portray us as beautiful people.
It is, therefore, important for all of us to eschew tribal and religious differences.
The emphasis should be on our identity as Ghanaians before anything else.
Together, we can easily succeed, but divided, we would have our strengths dissipated on things that are not vital to our lives. When this happens, we will spend our energies on things that are not valuable as far as national progress and development are concerned.
The strength of this nation lies in the different talents and skills possessed by the different individuals in the country. If these talents are brought together for a common purpose, the sky will be the limit.
The different parts of the country, for example, have different soils and vegetation, which, when harnessed effectively, can maximise output in the country.
This shows that it is not just one part of the country that is needed to help in national development.
As each region or area is brought on board in this way, national output will be higher than expected, just the same way that the human body is made up of different parts, and all these parts work together for the common good of a person.
Each part cannot work for its own success. Togetherness and unity is what is needed for the common success of every individual.
The lesson here is that the various individuals in Ghana must come together to respect and appreciate each other for the common good. This is how Ghana can be transformed into a very great nation.
Unity and togetherness is, therefore, what we need to do better to build a great nation.
Building a great nation in this way will be beneficial to everybody in a number of ways. In the first place, it will result in strong common security for the protection of life and property in the country.
Again, a united and strong nation will bring about peace in all parts of the country. Once there is peace, political and socioeconomic development will continue unabated.
The people in the country will also be very happy and go about their normal duties without problems. Each person will respect the other, irrespective of religion or other differences.
The end result will be a strong, united country that will be capable of overcoming all challenges, be they health, education, agriculture, tourism, sanitation, or what have you.
Ghana is an African country described as a developing one, but we stand a chance of making ourselves proud when we come together to unite for our common national purpose of development.
This, but nothing else, should be our national goal.
Dear Editor
I wish to draw attention to the increasing number of children begging for alms on the streets of the capital.
This has become a common sight at traffic lights, markets and busy intersections.
Many of these children should be in school, but instead they spend long hours under the hot sun and in dangerous traffic.
Sadly, they are sometimes found in the company of their parents, the same people expected to ensure that these minors spend those hours in school.
These children are usually exposed to accidents, exploitation and abuse. The situation does not only affects their future but also reflects poorly on our society.
I appeal to parents and guardians to take greater responsibility for their children.
I also urge the government, the Department of Social Welfare and other relevant agencies to intensify efforts to rescue these children, provide them with education and support their families where necessary.
I also wish to employ the ‘Samaritans’ who gives money to these children to also spend a few seconds to ask these children why they beg for alms on the street and not going to school.
Getting these children off the street must now be seen as a shared responsibility.
Every child deserves a safe home, quality education and the opportunity to achieve their full potential. By working together, we can reduce street begging and give these children a brighter future.
From Eugene Ampiaw,
Dansoman
In addition to the severe flooding that Accra is already experiencing a major sanitation crisis is imminent as the Kpone dump approaches closure.
Currently, there are now just two significant disposal sites in the area: the Adepa dumpsite in the Ga West Municipal Assembly, which is close to Amasaman, and the Kpone Waste Landfill.
Inquiries so far, revealed that the Kpone site is almost at capacity and will likely close in the next six months. As a result, waste is accumulating at local markets and municipal collection points throughout the capital.
The situation has been made worse by the recent terrible floods, and immediate action is required to prevent the impending crisis.
The fundamental issue is that accumulating uncollected waste during rainy seasons poses significant threats to public health, including the possibility of cholera, typhoid, and malaria outbreaks.
Subsequent investigations showed that the Kpone plant, which was initially built to manage 500 tonnes of waste per day, has been handling almost twice that much, shortening its lifespan.
Many towns’ waste collection operations have been badly impacted by this looming shutdown, and the fact that Accra has few disposal choices is even more disturbing.
Now, waste collection vehicles face abnormally long queues at the Kpone site, and residents complain that most of the tricycles, referred to as “Aboboyaa,” leave rubbish uncollected in residential and commercial areas.
Although the Zoompak waste transfer station was authorised by the government to reopen in order to help manage daily waste volumes, it is still unable to handle the enormous volumes of waste generated every day.
According to Dr. Peter Kwesi Dagadu, Managing Director of the Landfills Company Limited, managing the capital’s expanding waste burden has become extremely difficult due to the scarcity of disposal facilities, especially in light of the city’s fast population increase and rising waste production.
As a result, the situation has put a great deal of strain on the infrastructure already in place and jeopardizes attempts to keep Accra’s waste management system sustainable and effective.
The Spectator agrees with him that new infrastructure for disposing of waste is desperately needed, as a change to a more environmentally friendly waste management techniques.
It is admirable that he suggests Ghana adopt recycling and garbage recovery as a long-term solution to the nation’s sanitation problems.
We therefore, implore the government to support this recycling objective by enacting strict laws, regulations, investments, and enforcement measures to enhance waste management nationwide.
In order to address the waste problem as quickly as possible, everyone must be involved, including private waste management companies, individuals, and households.
