Editorial
Clubs must be proactive to prevent violence at home grounds
Dear Editor,
The recent disturbances during a Ghana Premier League match between Nsoatreman FC and Kumasi Asante Kotoko on Sunday, February 2 in Nsoatre in the Bono region, which tragically resulted in the death of a dedicated supporter of Kotoko, have revealed the deep security issues affecting the growth of Ghana football.
The incident reveals the increasing lawlessness and violent behaviour of some football fans during and after games, the lack of proper security measures in place, and the failure to address violence in Ghanaian football.
Football is meant to unite, inspire, and entertain, not to claim lives. The loss of Francis Yaw Frimpong, aka Nana Pooley, is something that should never have happened, and justice must be served.
The Ghana Police Service has taken bold and expected steps by arresting suspects, but this should only be the beginning of a huge effort in eradicating football-related violence across the country.
Also, clubs should be held accountable for their actions and ensure proper measures to keep their venues security-ready and safe.
Strict punishments must be meted to people who involve themselves in football-related violence. Those found guilty of inciting or participating in hooliganism should face lifetime bans from venues with heavy fines and criminal prosecution.
To act as a deterrent, clubs whose supporters commit violent crimes should also be subject to severe sanctions, such as fines and point deductions. Additionally, campaigns for education and awareness must be planned in order to inform supporters who act ignorantly due to emotion and a lack of knowledge about the repercussions.
Finally, in order to stop additional harm, everyone should have access to better compensation and support for referees and players. Dissatisfaction with refereeing calls or unfavourable match conditions are the primary causes of violent events. Some of these conflicts can be avoided by making sure referees are properly protected, rewarded, and trained. Players, too, need to feel safe when stepping onto the pitch, knowing that their careers and lives are not at risk.
This tragic incident should serve as a wake-up call for all football lovers and demand concrete actions to be taken to prevent more violence and the possible collapse of our domestic league and damage to Ghana’s football reputation. The GFA, clubs, security agencies, and fans must come together to fight this cancer, which is almost taking over our game.
Enoch Ntiamoah,
Nkawkaw
Editorial
Parents urged to take responsibility for sex education
Dr. Francis Wuobar, a Gynaecologist at the Eastern Regional Hospital in Koforidua has urged parents to take the lead in providing sex education to their children, stressing that they were in the best position to guide them through the changes of adolescence.
According to him, sex education remained a taboo subject in most Ghanaian homes, a culture that must change to prevent children from seeking misleading information elsewhere.
“With the evolving nature of society and technological advancements, today’s children will either learn about sex on the internet or from their peers, who may offer wrong advice,” he cautioned.
Dr. Wuobar noted that the health system and society often concentrate on the reproductive stage of life, neglecting the adolescent and menopausal phases.
“When a woman reaches the reproductive period and gets pregnant, everyone rallies around her. But before that stage, during adolescence, there is little attention and guidance, which has contributed to the rising cases of teenage pregnancy,” he explained.
He observed that many adolescents lack access to counseling and adolescent clinics, creating a vacuum that forces them to explore on their own.
“The answers they seek, adults and parents are not willing to provide. Their peers, who are equally uninformed, become their only source of advice. This exploration is one of the major contributors to teenage pregnancy,” he said.
Dr. Wuobar therefore called on parents to create open and confidential spaces for discussion, where children can freely ask questions about sex, puberty, and relationships.
He emphasized that parents must help adolescents understand the consequences of unprotected sex, the changes they go through, and what choices were right or wrong.
“Today’s generation is curious and asks questions, unlike in the past when children were silent. Parents should not rebuke them but rather engage them seriously and guide them through this turbulent stage,” he advised.
He further appealed to the health sector to establish more adolescent clinics across the country to give young people safe spaces to seek information and counseling.
That, he said, would help reduce the high incidence of teenage pregnancy and support adolescents in making informed decisions about their sexual health.
From Ama Tekyiwaa Ampadu Agyeman, Koforidua
Editorial
Addressing unhealthy conditions at Akropong Mandela Market
Dear Editor,
The Akropong Mandela Market, a vibrant centre of commerce, has been in a terrible state for over a decade now.
Central to the problem is a public toilet located near the market, which has become a breeding ground for diseases and a source of discomfort for both food vendors and customers.
This toilet, utilised by everyone in the town, is positioned too close to the market, severely affecting the vendors who spend long hours selling their goods.
They are constantly exposed to unsanitary conditions mixed with foul odours emanating from the facility.
Agnes, a vendor at the market is sad about the apparent lack of concern from those responsible for maintaining the toilet. Despite collecting user fees, there seems to be little effort to keep the facility clean and hygienic.
The situation at the Akropong Mandela Market highlights the urgent need for effective waste management and sanitation infrastructure in public spaces.
Authorities must take immediate action to ensure the facility is regularly maintained and cleaned. Vendors and customers deserve a safe and healthy environment to conduct their daily activities.
In the meantime, the vendors are urging local government officials to intervene and find a lasting solution to this problem.
Only through collective action can the health and well-being of both vendors and customers be safeguarded to restore the Akropong Mandela Market to its former glory as a thriving commercial hub.
Addo Sarah Ansah Student,
UNIMAC–IJ(BACS26275)
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