Editorial
Bringing kidnapping under control
One common occurrence these days is stories about kidnapping of children or some young people in certain parts of the country. The Western Region has been particularly noted for such occurrences.
It is, therefore, incumbent on the security agencies as well as the public to work hard and help bring such matters under control.
Kidnapping puts fear in many people and prevents them from going about their duties freely. Again, it is a security threat which prevents people from becoming confident and participating actively in social life and development.
Kidnappers usually demand money from the relatives of their victims before they are released. They ask for ransom and threaten to kill their victims if the ransom is not given. We, therefore, need to be careful about our movement by ensuring that we inform people we stay with whenever it becomes necessary for us to move away from our areas of residence to new places.
Of late, another motive for fake kidnapping has emerged. Here, individuals plan with others to fake that they have been kidnapped when, indeed, it is not true, so that upon payment of the ransom to certain people, the supposed victims will go back and share the booty with those they planned the activity with.
This is diabolical and must not be entertained by society because apart from the creation of fear and panic in the minds of people, it destroys the image of a country also.
Those who collaborate in fake kidnappings do so for money and this shows that our intelligence agencies be proactive and arrest the situation before it gets out of hand.
People should take note of the tricks of this nature so that they will not fall victims to them. Everyone including children, married and unmarried people as well as old people must not take things for granted but be prepared to notify the police of strange observations in their homes or neighbourhood.
The Spectator is of the view that maximum punishment ought to be meted out to perpetrators of kidnapping, whether they are fake or real, so that these unpleasant developments can be eliminated from our society once and for all.
Peace is very essential in society. For this reason, if there are security gaps such as kidnapping or threats to the peace of an area, it will distract people from what they will do for socio-economic development.
Every individual has a role to play to ensure the absence of kidnapping, whether fake or real.
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
