Editorial
Be wary of lotto fraudsters
Dear Editor,
The National Lottery Authority (NLA) is doing all it can to deal with fraudsters that have ‘invaded’ the system but the charlatans continue to devise new methods every day.
I have so far blocked about three numbers from unknown persons on my WhatsApp who claim to be staff of the NLA.
One of them who contacted me via text recently explained he had “leaked lotto numbers” and he could help me “win big” if I am interested and went on asking me to pay a registration fee after which he would send to me the numbers to stake.
I must say that anybody who is not familiar with this trick may fall for it at the first instance, considering the convincing and ‘official style’ in which these people communicate. I have seen similar messages on other platforms with some people creating special groups that claim to have genuine lotto numbers.
There is another group of the ”lotto syndicate” which I do not have a problem with. These group only send random messages containing three lotto numbers and ask that people put a “big stake” on it. I am not bothered about this second group because anybody who chooses to stake the numbers do so at their own risk as they may or may not win.
Inasmuch as times are hard and winning lotto could be another means of income, I wish to encourage individuals to tread cautiously especially in dealing with faceless people posing as NLA Staff.
It is important to avoid any offer that sound too good to be true. Again, I urge the NLA to intensify public education and not relent on the effort of weeding out the crooks in the system.
Bless Akomea,
Achimota.
Dear Editor,
It is often said that a healthy nation is a wealthy nation. However, this saying becomes worrying when the health of citizens is threatened by the conditions under which the food they consume daily is sold.
In Ghana, the conditions under which food is sold is quite disturbing. Over the years, I have observed that the environments where food is prepared and sold are often unhygienic.
In many cases, containers holding food such as rice and waakye are left uncovered or not properly covered, exposing them to contamination.
While many Ghanaians paid little attention in the past to the conditions under which food was sold, the narrative seems to be changing in recent years.
I recall an incident during my days in Senior High School (S.H.S.) when my friends and I went out to buy food. At one location, some of us chose not to buy because we assumed the food would be expensive due to how neat the place looked.
Unfortunately, we ended up purchasing food from a different place that was somewhat unhygienic. We overlooked the poor conditions because we believed the quantity offered was better than at the cleaner location.
However, I am certain that my friends and I would not repeat such a mistake today, as we now understand the health implications of that decision.
While public education is important in addressing this issue, I believe it is time for regulatory and law enforcement agencies, such as the Food and Drug Authority (FDA), to crack the whip on food sellers and vendors who operate in unhygienic environments and conditions.
As citizens, we must also be mindful of where we buy our food to protect ourselves and our families from diseases and illnesses. We should choose ‘quality’ over ‘quantity’ and prioritize our health.
From Syram
Oyarifa
Dear Editor,
I write to express concern and call for improved security measures before and after every football match.
The recent robbery attack that led to the tragic death of a player, on their return from a Match day 29 game against Samartex, is both shocking and heartbreaking.
The incident, which reportedly occurred around 10:30 p.m., highlights the growing risks faced by players and team officials while traveling.
Football is meant to unite and entertain, not to expose lives to danger. It is therefore imperative that authorities, the Ghana Football Association, and security agencies put in place adequate protection for teams, especially during late-night travels.
I strongly urge all stakeholders to treat this matter with urgency to prevent such unfortunate incidents from recurring.
From Eugene Ampiaw
Accra
