Editorial
Boycott of the IPAC meeting on election 2020 by the NDC
Presidential and parliamentary elections in the country have seen improvements from time to time because of useful inputs made by stakeholders during meetings organised by the Electoral Commission for the political parties and other stakeholders.
From opaque boxes as well as black and white photographs, the country is now able to organise elections using colour photographs of voters and transparent boxes.
As we move on with more elections, further improvements will come based on useful inputs made by political parties and other stakeholders.
When this happens, it is the country as a whole that will benefit from good election results. It is in the light of this that The Spectator and some Ghanaians find it strange and unacceptable the position of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) to have boycotted the Inter-party Advisory Committee (IPAC) meeting recently organised by the Electoral Commission.
The meeting would have enabled the party to come out with loopholes encountered during the last elections and as well come with suggestions regarding how best to improve the situation.
The NDC made it clear that it would not have anything to do with the Electoral Commission on the matter. If this is the position adopted by the party, then it is very unfortunate and the NDC should begin to dissolve itself immediately without having anything to do with the Electoral Commission.
Elections cannot be conducted in the country without the statutory body charged with responsibility of organising them. The Electoral Commission is the election management body which cannot be avoided by any of the political parties.
This is where the NDC’s position is wrong and unacceptable.
This paper, therefore, urges the leadership of the party to rescind their decision and agree to hold meetings with the Electoral Commission together with other political parties on the way forward.
The claims made by the NDC that they won the last election could not be proved at the Supreme Court. Their star witness, Mr Asiedu Nketia, upon interrogation by the court made it clear that it was the current president, Nana Addo Dankwah Akufo-Addo, who won the election with over 51 per cent.
It is, therefore, strange and difficult to understand that the NDC would now turn round and say that it would not attend any of the meetings organised by the Electoral Commission.
Peace must be made to prevail, so the NDC must change its position on this matter.
The loss of any particular election should not be seen as the end of life. What the NDC needs to do is to reorganise itself and come out with programmes that are likely to win them the mandate in the next election.
Unnecessary bickerings in the matter must be avoided for peace to reign in the political front.
Editorial
Urgent call to address sanitation, environmental neglect at Legon City Campus, Makola-Tudu Junction
Dear Editor
Ghana is grappling with mounting sanitation and environmental neglect and as a concerned citizen and advocate for a cleaner, safer and more presentable academic environment, I feel compelled to highlight disturbing issues I encountered during a recent visit to the enclave of Workers College, currently operating as Legon City Campus of the University of Ghana as well as Accra Central, specifically the stretch from Makola towards Tudu, just after the Ghana National Fire Service office.
At the Legon City Campus, formerly known as Workers College, widespread overgrowth of weeds along campus walls and walkways poses both safety and structural risks.
The unchecked vegetation is encroaching on pedestrian pathways and threatening the stability of surrounding walls.
Behind the campus, near the road to Adabraka and Liberia Road, garbage and overgrown weeds have turned the area into an eyesore, undermining the prestige of one of Ghana’s premier universities.
The environmental degradation reflects poorly on the institution’s leadership and jeopardizes student and community health.
I would like to urge the University of Ghana Estate Department to act immediately, clearing the weeds, reinforcing structural elements, cleaning the garbage-strewn areas, and establishing a consistent maintenance schedule.
This will ensure safety, institutional pride and civic responsibility.
In Accra Central, a similar crisis is festering. A growing heap of refuse near the Makola-Tudu Junction, just past the Ghana National Fire Service office has overwhelmed pedestrian walkways and spilled into vehicular lanes.
This not only causes human and traffic congestion but also creates a hazardous public health situation in one of the city’s busiest commercial zones.
As a tour guide and advocate for Ghana’s tourism industry, this development has damaging impact on the country’s image.
Tourists encountering filth in the capital’s core are left with a negative impression, counteracting national efforts to boost tourism.
I therefore call on the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA), Osu Klottey Municipal Assembly, and sanitation agencies to enforce waste management laws, improve public hygiene infrastructure and revive the National Sanitation Day initiative to foster civic responsibility.
It is time for authorities at all levels to demonstrate leadership and restore dignity to these vital spaces. The status quo is no longer acceptable.
Frederick Nortey (Traveler, Tour Guide, Blogger, Writer)
Accra
Editorial
Renovate Efua Sutherland Children’s Park
The Efua Sutherland Children’s Park at West Ridge in the Greater Accra Region, now in ruins, needs renovations.
The once-vibrant recreational centre for children, families, students, and tourists is now in a state of neglect, according to our reporter who visited the place.
Efua Sutherland, a well-known playwright and children’s author, is honoured by the Park, an important recreational and cultural area. Her work with children made her a notable figure in Ghanaian literature and education.
The Park used to be well-known and a popular destination for schoolchildren, particularly during vacation, but today visitors are met with outdated machinery and dilapidated infrastructure.
A vital green space in the city, the park provides a calm setting for families and children to unwind, play, and take part in cultural events. It is relevant because it fosters community life, offers recreational opportunities, hosts cultural events, and connects people to their Ghanaian heritage.
Additionally, both locals and visitors may easily access it due to its central location. Nothing seems to have been done to update the space or give it a facelift.
During The Spectator’s tour of the facility it was observed that the 14.83-acre playground’s equipment has rusted and turned into death traps instead of serving the intended purpose of entertaining guests.
Children are put off by the condition of the equipment because they are afraid of getting hurt. Inquiries at the location also showed that few people visit to inquire about the place and that its current condition makes it unappealing for event planners to host special events there. This calls into question the country’s dedication to maintaining such iconic and public areas.
There is an urgent need to address the terrible situation.
In order to ensure that events are hosted in the park, The Spectator urges the Ministry of Gender, Women and Social Protection (MCWSP), which is in charge of overseeing the facility, to collaborate with investors and other stakeholders to give it a facelift.
We think that if the Park is renovated, it will draw more event planners and regain its reputation as a communal hub that promotes cultural pride and a sense of belonging.
