Editorial
A critical look at this year’s Population and Housing Census
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Provisional figures of the 2021 Population and Housing Census show that Ghana’s population is now 30.8 million with the female population forming 51.3 per cent and the male population at 49.7 per cent.
The provisional data is not likely to be significantly different from the final data which is to be released in November this year.
This has certain implications for the country. If it shows that the female population continues to form more than half of the population, it is an indication that policy makers will have to tilt slightly towards the provision of more resources for the female population, even though the male population is also not to be neglected
Another revelation by the provisional data is that, the Greater Accra Region has shot into the lead as the most populous region, over taking the Ashanti Region. The fourth most populous region after Greater Accra Ashanti and Eastern regions is the Central Region.
These changes have certain implications for policy planners. It shows that policy planner will have to allocate more resources to these regions compared with the other regions in the country with comparative smaller population figures
The provisional data show that there have been population changes in certain districts towards the urban areas. People will, therefore, expect government to shift more resources to these areas.
What is important to note, however, is that if government follows this general pattern it will not be able to check rural-urban drift and the status quo will continue to remain the same.
The Spectator is, therefore, of the opinion that measures will have to be taken to change this drift. For example government should come up with special development projects in the rural areas to serve as an incentive to people who would want to stay in such areas. If this happens, professionals such as trained teachers, medical doctors, pharmacists and all others, will be encouraged to move into the largely rural areas
Again, it is important for us to note that of the housing structures which were counted, about 20 per cent were in non-conventional forms meaning that they were either wooden structures, container kiosks or other structures that cannot be described as decent.
This means that the government will have to fight for resources to bring improvement to the housing area. More people need decent housing structures, so government will have to take this into consideration when undertaking and implementing its development plans
The 80 per cent constituting decent housing is good and commendable, even though there is still room for improvement. In spite of this, however, the nation will have to work hard to provide decent accommodation for people.
Government has encouraged the State Housing Company (SHC) to put up more decent houses throughout the country. The SHC has done very well in this direction, but the challenge here is the cost of housing units that they put up.
This implies that cheaper building materials will have to be found to put up housing units that cost less and can be purchased by most of our poor people. It is a challenge we need to pursue seriously, if we are to overcome the housing deficit in the country.
Dear Editor,
I want to use this platform to create awareness on the growing safety challenge at some of our beaches, particularly the lack of adequate safety measures to prevent accidents.
Beaches are important recreational spaces that also contribute significantly to Ghana’s tourism industry. However, many beaches lack trained lifeguards, emergency equipment and proper supervision.
During weekends, holidays and sometimes weekdays, families visit these beaches to have fun and some, for relaxing, yet the necessary safety measures are often inadequate.
The situation becomes even more worrying when children and inexperienced swimmers enter the water without proper guidance; it can quickly turn a day meant for enjoyment into a tragedy for families.
I urge beach operators and local authorities to strengthen safety measures at our beaches, make trained lifeguards available at busy beaches, warning signs clearly displayed and emergency responses system established.
Public education is equally important as well. Visitors must be encouraged to obey safety instructions, avoid dangerous places and remain vigilant especially when children are around.
Ghana has beautiful beaches with enormous potentials that attract both local and international tourists, but we cannot promote beach tourism effectively whiles neglecting the safety of the people who visit these places.
I hope the authorities will treat beach safety as a national priority before it cause any tragedy.
From Elvis Amoako
Teshie-Nungua.
Dear Editor,
In Ghana, it appears that the moment a prominent politician is arrested or convicted, we fail to ask of the person’s offence but rather think of the person’s political affiliation.
Taking the recent 20-year imprisonment handed to New Patriotic Party (NPP) Ashanti regional chairman, Bernard Antwi-Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi has once again exposed this troubling culture.
An Accra high court convicted him on illegal-mining related charges and sentenced him to 20 years in prison. The NPP has since announced its intention to appeal the conviction.
What concerns me is not whether one belongs to the NPP or the NDC, what concern me is our growing tendency to attach a political identity to every arrest, investigation or court judgment. If an NPP member is arrested, some immediately say the NDC government is targeting the opposition. If an NDC member faces legal trouble the same argument will easily be reversed when political circumstances change.
We must ask ourselves; Are we defending justice or are we simply depending on our political colours? Political affiliation should never determine whether we believe a person deserves investigation, prosecution or a fair trial. If someone is accused of wrongdoing the proper institution must investigate, the court must determine guilt and the accused must have the right to challenge the decision through legal process.
Ghana cannot build a strong democracy if every criminal investigation becomes a political battle. Let us learn to separate politics from justice, a wrongdoing does not become right because the accused belong to your party and an accusation does not become true simply because the person belong to the opposing party.
Our loyalty should first be Ghana, the rule of the law and justice not to political colors.
From Desmond Yaw Frimpong
Pentecost University
