Editorial
Teshie Demo: Protesters must be civil in their demand
Hundreds of residents joined the protest which was generally peaceful
Dear Editor,
The people of Teshie have the right to demonstrate but the level of lawlessness exhibited on Tuesday during the ‘fix our roads’ demo in the area is despicable, to say the least.
Some protesters on the day, I observed, had blocked some roads compelling commercial drivers heading for Accra Central and other destinations to find alternative routes.
As if that was not enough, some young men who had packed themselves in 207 vehicles told commercial drivers not to park or pick passengers at specific locations in the area. I witnessed how at least two commercial drivers who were unaware of this “directive” had their tyres deflated by the young men who went on rampage.
The vehicle I boarded on my way to work that day managed to swerve the so-called ‘task force’ which was preventing commercial drivers from picking up passengers but just when we thought we were out of the ‘danger zone,’ a rickety vehicle from nowhere crossed our driver in an alley and before our driver could explain himself, one of the front tyres of our ‘vehicle’ had been deflated.
Another ‘trotro’ driver, following us closely, also had three of his car tyres deflated. Commuters, aboard either of the two vehicles, including myself, stood by the roadside and wasted at least 20 minutes while we watched our driver replace the tyres.
About 9 am on Wednesday morning, a similar incident happened on my way to work when another group of young men stopped our commercial driver for violating the “no parking” order by organisers of the protest. But this time, our driver intuitively sped off before the men attempted to deflate the tyres of the vehicle.
Unreasonably, the “taskforce” of about five men, wearing reflective jackets, chased our vehicle and attempted to push us off the road starting from the LEKMA road all the way to the Kpeshie Lagoon, where traffic had started building up.
Our driver and other passengers engaged in a heated exchange with the hooligans who insisted on effecting “arrest,” because he had picked a passenger at an “unapproved zone” at Teshie.
I did not follow them to see how it ended but the question on the lips of passengers, including myself, was how could a group of people arrogate powers to themselves just because they were protesting against some of the roads in bad shape in their locality?
We wondered who could have sanctioned the road blocks and the “no parking operation” to the extent that a supposed “taskforce” could decide to chase a commercial vehicle or driver and endanger the lives of passengers on board?
I am not too clear how long the protest by the residents is supposed to last but I wish to bring these unlawful incidents to the attention of authorities in the locality and reiterate that individuals or groups who lead the demonstration cannot act lawlessly even as they express their concerns.
The concerns may be legitimate but organisers must be civil in the protest. Commercial drivers who ply the route in Teshie must be allowed to go about their business in peace. It is illogical for what is supposed to be a peaceful protest be turned into “war” with commercial drivers.
Franklin Gyamfi Mensah
Nungua-Addogonno,
Accra.
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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