Editorial
Ensure right material are used for storey buildings
Dear Editor,
I write to draw to your attention to a growing phenomenon in our society and the country as a whole.
Growing up, I only saw a few storey buildings around the country. Most buildings I saw were ground structures that housed families.
I am now becoming a bit worried about the rate at which storey buildings are being built across the country.
While putting up a storey building helps in the effective utilisation of natural resources such as land, it could also lead to the loss of lives and properties if the right building materials are not used.
In Ghana, we have witnessed a number of storey buildings, including shopping malls and church buildings collapse, leading to loss of lives.
Often, investigations conducted by regulatory authorities in the building and construction sector have revealed that those buildings collapse because the right material was not used in the building process.
Although there have been calls from a section of the public for authorities to inspect storey buildings in the country to prevent disasters, I think those calls have fallen on deaf ears, considering the fast pace at which individuals and businesses are putting up storey buildings in the country.
Some of these storey buildings that are near completion or abandoned by its owners and cited in close proximity have even developed cracks, which poses threat to the lives of those who lived around.
I, therefore, as a matter of urgency, urge the duty bearers and regulatory authorities in the building and construction sector to ensure that those storey buildings are inspected and the contractors held accountable, to prevent another Melcom disaster.
Osei Kuka,
Accra
Dear Editor,
I wish to use this esteemed platform to urge the traditional councils of Osu and La to call for independent investigation into the recent demolition exercise at Kaajaano.
The exercise rendered hundreds homeless.
Information about the reason for the demolition has been scanty with those desiring to know feeding heavily on social media posts.
One particular name –Jato, has been associated with it but under whose instruction the exercise was carried is also not known.
Sadly, instead of getting to know who ordered the demolition and for what reasons, traditional authorities of Osu and La have been embroiled in a tug-of-war over ownership of the said land.
This is premature. At this moment, they should call for investigation into the exercise to know the people behind it.
When that is done, then discussions about the owners of the site can begin. That would end the posture of the two neighbouring town which has the potential to turn into something else.
Ataa Osa Mensah,
Osu
Dear Editor,
I wish to use your respected platform to draw the attention of the Bank of Ghana (BoG) to the behaviour of traders and some drivers about the use of lower denomination coins, specifically the 20 and 10 pesewas.
About two weeks ago, I read in your sister newspaper, The Ghanaian Times about this problem and the caution that followed from the BoG and some economic analysts.
The warning they gave was that the continuous rejection of the notes could create pricing problems which can eventually affect inflation.
I thought that would put to bed that practice or refusal to accept the coins when given out as change or use to pay for particular service.
Unfortunately, the problem still persist among traders, drivers, customers and passengers alike. Only last week, there was as altercation in the Accra Central area where a woman refused to accept five 20 pesewas note totaling one cedi.
As the argument continued, the trader decided not to sell to the customer again after by-standers explained to her that it was still a legal tender and those that refused it could become offenders.
This is an issue the BoG and other regulatory agencies must go and explain to the people and let them know that it is unlawful not to accept a currency that is still in use.
It nothing was done, it could create a much more serious problems.
Mary Osei Badu,
Swedru
