Editorial
Check the congestion on Circle pedestrian walk ways
Crowded Odawna pavement
Dear Editor,
Having observed the congestion on the pedestrian walkways at the Kwame Nkrumah interchange (Circle) area in Accra, I cannot help but show much concern.
It is astonishing how hawkers and ‘Okada’ riders have taken over the walkways, turning it into business ground or market centre while pedestrian struggle to meander their way through.
Hawkers have projected their umbrellas at every available space on the walkway, with a display of all kinds of items ranging from second-hand dresses, shoes, fruits, vegetables, phones and its accessories, herbal medicine, pastries, underwears among other items.
This situation by hawkers compels pedestrians to manoeuver their way through the thick crowd of disorder.
The overcrowding of pedestrians struggling to make their way out of the thick crowd I believe is unhygienic as one can contract disease or sickness from the sweat of the other person or even catch cold.
Motorists also have made it a habit of operating on the pedestrian walkways which is very risky and poses danger to pedestrians.
Also, various food joints at the walkways must be cleared because the place is not conducive as well as unhygienic.
This poses health challenges to travellers and others who purchase them for consumption.
I would like to call on the appropriate authorities and stakeholders to as a matter of urgency, take the necessary measures to resolve this issue.
Interestingly, the place is very close to the Korley Klottey Municipal Assembly and why they have not taken any action to clear the area is mind boggling.
What appears fascinating remains the fact that these sellers have abandoned their shops in the Odawna Market and have relocated to the roadside.
Dorothy Ayebea,
Accra.
Editorial
Parents urged to take responsibility for sex education
Dr. Francis Wuobar, a Gynaecologist at the Eastern Regional Hospital in Koforidua has urged parents to take the lead in providing sex education to their children, stressing that they were in the best position to guide them through the changes of adolescence.
According to him, sex education remained a taboo subject in most Ghanaian homes, a culture that must change to prevent children from seeking misleading information elsewhere.
“With the evolving nature of society and technological advancements, today’s children will either learn about sex on the internet or from their peers, who may offer wrong advice,” he cautioned.
Dr. Wuobar noted that the health system and society often concentrate on the reproductive stage of life, neglecting the adolescent and menopausal phases.
“When a woman reaches the reproductive period and gets pregnant, everyone rallies around her. But before that stage, during adolescence, there is little attention and guidance, which has contributed to the rising cases of teenage pregnancy,” he explained.
He observed that many adolescents lack access to counseling and adolescent clinics, creating a vacuum that forces them to explore on their own.
“The answers they seek, adults and parents are not willing to provide. Their peers, who are equally uninformed, become their only source of advice. This exploration is one of the major contributors to teenage pregnancy,” he said.
Dr. Wuobar therefore called on parents to create open and confidential spaces for discussion, where children can freely ask questions about sex, puberty, and relationships.
He emphasized that parents must help adolescents understand the consequences of unprotected sex, the changes they go through, and what choices were right or wrong.
“Today’s generation is curious and asks questions, unlike in the past when children were silent. Parents should not rebuke them but rather engage them seriously and guide them through this turbulent stage,” he advised.
He further appealed to the health sector to establish more adolescent clinics across the country to give young people safe spaces to seek information and counseling.
That, he said, would help reduce the high incidence of teenage pregnancy and support adolescents in making informed decisions about their sexual health.
From Ama Tekyiwaa Ampadu Agyeman, Koforidua
Editorial
Addressing unhealthy conditions at Akropong Mandela Market
Dear Editor,
The Akropong Mandela Market, a vibrant centre of commerce, has been in a terrible state for over a decade now.
Central to the problem is a public toilet located near the market, which has become a breeding ground for diseases and a source of discomfort for both food vendors and customers.
This toilet, utilised by everyone in the town, is positioned too close to the market, severely affecting the vendors who spend long hours selling their goods.
They are constantly exposed to unsanitary conditions mixed with foul odours emanating from the facility.
Agnes, a vendor at the market is sad about the apparent lack of concern from those responsible for maintaining the toilet. Despite collecting user fees, there seems to be little effort to keep the facility clean and hygienic.
The situation at the Akropong Mandela Market highlights the urgent need for effective waste management and sanitation infrastructure in public spaces.
Authorities must take immediate action to ensure the facility is regularly maintained and cleaned. Vendors and customers deserve a safe and healthy environment to conduct their daily activities.
In the meantime, the vendors are urging local government officials to intervene and find a lasting solution to this problem.
Only through collective action can the health and well-being of both vendors and customers be safeguarded to restore the Akropong Mandela Market to its former glory as a thriving commercial hub.
Addo Sarah Ansah Student,
UNIMAC–IJ(BACS26275)
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