Editorial
Cocoa carriers diverse better
Dear Editor,
I wish to revisit the disturbing report about the wages/income of cocoa carriers, which came up early January this year.
The ‘loading boys’, as some are called in local parlance, had embarked on strike demanding an increase in their loading fee from 0.62Gp to GH¢ 1.00 per bag but their employers insisted 0.82Gp instead.
Their action resulted in bags of cocoa piled up at some collection points, causing the Cocoa Marketing Company (CMC) to rely briefly on the labour of prison inmates.
Although the boys returned to work after negotiations, I cannot fathom why young engaged on this field should be paid so low. It appears those in charge of this sector want us to believe that GH¢ 1.00 per a bag of cocoa beans is too much to ask for.
Even if the price per bag reaches GH¢ 1.00, it would imply that a carrier would to have to cart 1000 bags of cocoa beans in order to earn One Thousand Cedis (GH¢ 1000), if my table-top calculation is anything to go by. But considering the current 0.82 Gp rate, they may have to carry more than 1000 bags to earn any substantial amount.
This unfavourable condition, I believe, reflects of the sorry state of our economy and the poor living standards of many Ghanaian workers. It is, indeed, demoralising that a privileged few make themselves richer at the expense of ordinary employees who are paid paltry sums.
Cocoa carriers, diverse better and the government must have a second look at their situation. A bag of cocoa beans could weight about 64kg and carrying such load is no child’s play.
Frank Asare Donkor,
Ejuisu.
Basic education is widely considered a fundamental human right for all children, regardless of their community, age, or background. Providing good educational infrastructure is critical, as it directly influences educational quality, academic performance, and overall community development. The physical environment of schools shapes the future of children, who are the leaders of tomorrow.
However, the Nanvili Community School in the Mion district of the Northern Region faces severe infrastructural challenges, negatively affecting teaching and learning. The school serves five surrounding communities, with a total of 58 pupils. Observations during a visit revealed that the classrooms have deteriorated so badly that many children have stopped attending classes.
The poor condition of classrooms and lack of desks has made teaching and learning extremely difficult. More concerning is that the three gate-free classrooms are filled with goat and sheep droppings, creating a health hazard for pupils. During the rainy season, teachers and students are often cut off from the school due to bad roads and flooding, leading to weeks of suspended teaching activities, which further affects academic performance.
The Assemblyman for the area, Mr. Dawuni Mutawakil, expressed worry that pupils from Nanvili are expected to compete with their counterparts in urban areas who have access to better facilities. He emphasized the urgent need to provide desks and adequate classroom space to separate the merged classes.
The Chief of Nanvili, Abu Kassim, also appealed to the government and non-governmental organizations to assist the community. He noted that the current state of the school discourages children from nearby communities from attending, further highlighting the need for urgent intervention.
The Spectator joins local leaders in calling for immediate action to improve infrastructure and provide furniture, ensuring quality education for children in the Nanvili community.
By Geoffrey Buta, Nanvili, Northern Region
Spectator
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Dear Editor,
As December fast approaches and Christmas shopping begins, I wish to draw the attention of the Municipal and District Assemblies to the urgent need for measures that ensure orderliness in public spaces.
A few months after decongestion exercises were carried out in various municipalities, it appears that drivers and hawkers who were moved to designated areas are gradually returning. As a regular visitor to Accra Central and Nkrumah Circle, I have observed that hawkers are slowly filling pavements that had been cleared.
During the decongestion period, we hoped that hawkers would remain off the pavements entirely to allow commuters to move freely. However, while boundaries were marked with red paint, the hawkers are gradually encroaching beyond these limits, significantly narrowing the space left for pedestrians.
What is particularly concerning is that this is happening in full view of authorities, whose officers patrol the area daily. With the Christmas season approaching, these pavements will become even more congested as hawkers attempt to occupy every available space.
This is the time for Municipal and District Assemblies to assert their presence and enforce rules to prevent the situation from worsening. A stitch in time saves nine, and proactive measures now will prevent larger problems later.
By Regina Amoh, Accra
Spectator
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