Editorial
Accelerate road projects to reduce gridlock
Many commuters have suffered as a result of the protracted delays in road construction projects, which have negatively impacted livelihoods, productivity, and health.
Even worse, numerous enormous potholes that have appeared on several of Accra’s main highways since the start of the rainy season are obstructing traffic flow around the city.
These potholes have a significant impact on maintenance costs because the majority of vehicles that use them break down frequently.
Areas most severely impacted are the Obetsebi Lamptey intersection, Nungua interchange, toll booths, SCC Junction, Atala, and the Ashaiman-Afienya route near Gbeetsile among others.
In reality, because of the numerous large potholes on the stretch drivers who use these roads are irritated, especially when there is a gridlock.
Sadly, due to the nation’s economic difficulties, the government’s IMF programme and debt restructuring, which have impacted funding and slowed down construction, have made the road’s poor condition worse.
The spectator is appealing with the authorities to speed up road construction so that commuters may reach their destinations on time since they are worried on the current state of affairs.
As a temporary measure potholes on some roadways can be patched by engineers to reduce traffic. For instance, the industrial area roundabout on Feo Oyeo Link near the New Times Corporation (NTC) has huge potholes which add to the traffic situation on that stretch.
We implore the government to make funds available for road projects to alleviate the suffering of commuters but these projects should be continuously monitored and maintained by trained experts to prevent degradation.
The Spectator is happy to hear that the 5.8-kilometre stretch from School Junction to the Tema Mortorway in the Greater Accra Region and the 22-kilometre stretch from Dodowa to Adenta would be finished by the end of the year.
It is also rather reassuring to learn that the 1.8 km stretch of road between Kwabenya and Agbogba has received approval and that resources are being assembled to enable a contractor to begin work as soon as possible.
We hope our Engineers will ensure that while building the roads, massive drainage systems that let water flow freely during times of intense rain are built in flood-prone locations to prevent floods.
In addition, bicycle lanes should all be included in road projects including walkways to avoid being knocked down by vehicles.
It is our strong desire that the authorities will expedite action to make these road projects a reality as soon as possible.
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)
Join our WhatsApp Channel now!
https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VbBElzjInlqHhl1aTU27
