Editorial
Birth and death certificate acquisition cumbersome
Dear Editor,
I am concerned about the unsatisfactory service rendered by the Birth and Deaths Registry at some hospitals across the country.
It has been seven months since my brother applied for birth certificate for his daughter at one of the government hospitals in Accra and had since not received the document.
Personnel at the registry were either absent or would postpone dates anytime we went to the hospital to pick the document. Other parents have also complained of the unnecessary delays and excuses in acquiring this important document at other hospitals.
I thought birth certificates should be ready just a few days after a child is born but that is not the case at some institutions. Parents who want the certificate instantly would have to spend money travelling or grease the palm of some people before the document is printed.
I believe it is time the ministry in-charge took a second look at the operations of the Birth and Deaths Registry to make the acquisition of certificates less stressful for citizens.
Last year, I heard the Vice President, Dr. Bawumia suggesting a ‘digital solution’ to this challenge and I want to know the progress made so far.
Matilda Nkoom,
Koforidua.
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
