Editorial
Evacuation of Ghanaian students from Ukraine
As a result of the war between Russia and Ukraine, students studying in Ukraine have been seriously affected.
Due to the precarious situation in Ukraine many students who have gone to that country for studies but want to return home are being evacuated to Ghana for safety. Many of the students, fearing for their lives, have requested to be evacuated home.
Unfortunately, some of the students have stated that they will prefer to go to other countries rather than coming back home and the government of Ghana has made it clear that it will convey only those who are willing to come home.
A few of the students have decided to join their friends in other countries instead of coming home, but the majority of them have stated that they will prefer to be evacuated back home to Ghana.
In view of this development, the Government of Ghana has done what it can to bring the students home. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, led by Honourable Shirley Ayorkor Botchway has met some family members of the students in Accra to answer questions on the safety of the affected Ghanaian students.
This is a good effort by government but as usual, some propagandists have also decided to play politics with the issue by spreading false news that some Ghanaian students have been shot dead in Ukraine. This is a great lie and The Spectator is appealing to all political opponents who see themselves as not being in government to desist from such unhealthy practice.
Ghana is the only country we have so we must treasure it and ensure that as much as possible claims made by anybody about the country is nothing but the truth. We cannot continue to behave as if we are living in the jungle, only concerned about destruction of our motherland.
We thank God for the safe arrival of the students and hope that more of them will be brought home safely to reconcile with their families before going back to continue their studies if there is cessation of hostilities.
On this note, The Spectator commends the government for acting swiftly to bring our dear students back home safely. At the same time, we wish to appeal to Russia to stop its invasion of Ukraine and give peace a chance.
The world today needs lasting peace and this can be brought about by all countries irrespective of where they are on this earth. Russia must listen to the call for peace and stop the aggressive acts it has embarked upon.
We would again want to thank all those individuals and groups, including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for the efforts made in bringing the students home safely.
Following the closure of airports in Ukraine, the students had to be assisted through surrounding countries such as Hungary, Romania, Slovakia and others before being brought home, so we thank all those who helped in various ways to make their evacuation possible.
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.
