Dear Editor,

I wish to use this platform to commend Ghanaians for turning up massively to clean their respective communities as part of the national cleaning exercise declared by the president, John Dramani Mahama.

After cleaning my area, I decided to take a stroll across some of the neigbhouring communities.

I got so excited about the numbers that lined up the street and along gutters.

To my surprise, I met a few people who had moved to other areas to support. It was a good sign and reaction from people who have learnt serious lessons from the recent floods.

What we witnessed last Monday sends a clear message that if attitudes about sanitation don’t change, we may encounter more devastating disasters when it rains.

Truth is that the recent rain was quite heavy and continued for a longer time. However, the choked gutters and other drainage worsened the situation.

In one of the many videos that circulated on social media, one could sight a large heap of rubbish covering the surface of the flood water. We are the cause of this menace and Ghanaians must be seen to be showing concern.

With the sanitation issue being tackled gradually, I pray that government through the local assembly finds a way to collect the rubbish from the exercise, lest they wash into the drains again.

Again, the demolition exercises must continue. Building sited on waterways and resulting in flooding must be cleared. Government must try and restore all the wetlands taken over by developers.

Most of the time, the rich people that benefits from these activities do not suffer from the floods. It is the poor that suffers.

I hope that this exercise would be a monthly affair so that at least once in every month, citizens would come out like they did on Friday and Saturday to clean their environment.

Ayekoo to every Ghanaian that participated. Well done to all the Members of Parliament and Ministers of state that also took part. It was leadership by example.

Maxwell Boampong,

Accra Newtown

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