Editorial
Ban live ammunition use at social gatherings
Dear Editor,
I am of the firm conviction that the use of firearms in any form should be banned totally from public gatherings to curb the unfortunate incidents often recorded.
The sudden rise of real firearms, instead of the musketries, at public gathering should worrying to the authorities but why nothing seems to be done about it beats the imagination of all.
Some of these youth that wields these arms appear inexperienced too, often firing in the midst of people instead of firing into the air.
This is becoming a common sight at away from at festivals, funerals and others. It is something the authorities must look at critically.
I don’t need to remind people about some of the unfortunate incidents arising out of the use of firearms during festivals and funerals.
Personally, I had an experience recently in my line of duty as youth wielding guns stood very close to me and fired those guns on two occasions, leaving me momentarily deaf.
As we approach the season of festivals, this would be a common practice and it is important for the Police Service to warn the youth to desist from that.
The chiefs and other traditional authorities must also be seen joining the campaign to get rid of live ammunition from such gatherings.
Agencies like the Ministry of Local Government, Religious Affairs and Chieftaincy as well as the Ghana National Commission on Small Arms and Light Weapons and the security agencies must all collaborate to bring perpetuators to book.
Victor Buxton,
Tema
Dear Editor,
I AM writing to draw your attention to the inadequate street lights in some parts of Wawase, a situation that continues to pose serious concerns for residents.
Street lights play a crucial role in ensuring safety and security within a community. Unfortunately, several areas in Wawase are completely without functioning street lights.
This has made movement at night very difficult and dangerous, especially for workers, students, and traders who return home late.
The lack of proper lighting has also created an enabling environment for criminal activities such as theft and harassment. Residents often live in fear, and some are forced to limit their movements after dark. Additionally, poor visibility increases the risk of road accidents, putting both pedestrians and drivers at risk.
It is concerning that despite the growing population and development in Wawase, this basic infrastructure issue remains unresolved.
I would like to appeal to the relevant authorities, including the local assembly and electricity providers, to urgently address this problem by installing new street lights and repairing faulty ones.
Ensuring adequate street lights will not only improve security but also enhance the overall quality of life for residents in the area.
Gwen Mensah, Agona Swedru
Dear Editor,
FOR some time now, I have been deeply concerned about the state of the Kaneshie footbridge, which has over the years developed cracks, exposing some rusted metal parts and raising safety concerns.
It is, therefore, welcome news for daily users of the facility like myself that a team from the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA), led by the Metropolitan Chief Executive (MCE), visited the facility and announced a temporary closure to allow for maintenance work to be carried out.
While I wish to commend the Assembly for the move, I believe it has been long overdue.
I often find it difficult to understand why, as a country, we sit, wait, and watch for preventable incidents or tragedies to happen before we react. I say this because the issue of the bad state of the Kaneshie footbridge has been one that has been re-echoed by many who use it on a daily basis.
I believe that as the Assembly looks to start the maintenance works on the footbridge, it is also important for it and other Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies (MMDAs) to pay attention to other footbridges across the country that are in a similar state.
The time has come for Ghana, as a country, to be more proactive than reactive.
I will also urge the assemblies to deploy their respective teams to always check on footbridges across the country to ensure that they are in good shape to avoid any tragedy that could lead to the loss of human lives.
From Fafa, Kaneshie
