Editorial
Consumers must not be taken for granted
Dear Editor,
I think it is time Mr Kofi Kapito’s Consumer Protection Agency led a campaign to ensure consumers are compensated when personal electrical appliances get damaged as a result of power fluctuation or outage.
I had to dump my favourite sound system after it nearly caught fire due to a ‘wicked’ power outage experienced at my Baatsona residence recently. The most recent one occurred on Monday night around 9 pm.
When the power went off abruptly, it was restored after about two minutes but went off again. When it happens the power comes on with super high voltage which some of the appliances are unable to contain.
It was during one of these unstable instances that the most durable sound system I have ever had decided not to come back to life. I would have bought another one by now but not knowing when the next power outage would damage the new one too, I have decided to live without it.
Elsewhere, compensation from the service provider for this type of ‘inconvenience’ or loss of equipment would not be out of place; but that is not the case in our jurisdiction.
Although power surges are inevitable, I believe the electricity company could be more considerate any time there is a planned outage. Again, they must do well to ensure that operation of their systems does not go a long way to damage the equipment of consumers even when there is a genuine fault.
However, when the utility providers seem to be operating haphazardly without having the consumers in mind, then I would urge the public and key actors to start demanding compensation for any losses they incur as a result of ‘irresponsible’ power supply.
Frank Kumi,
Baatsona, Accra
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
