Editorial
Extension of SIM card re-registration eminent
Dear Editor,
I have been concerned about the March 31 deadline given for the SIM card re-registration by subscribers. However, a recent comment by a senior official of the National Identification Authority (NIA) makes me believe an extension of the deadline is eminent.
The official in an interview granted an Accra-based radio station, acknowledged the challenges the NIA was facing, particularly unprinted and uncollected NIA cards, double and triple registration by some citizens, among others.
The staff admitted that since the Ghana Card was a pre-requisite for the SIM card re-registration, the challenges highlighted would imply that a lot of Ghanaians may not be able to register their SIM cards by the March deadline.
The official, just like many citizens, believed the SIM re-registration was being done in a “haste” and, therefore, should be extended until end of year, by which time an appreciable number of Ghanaians would have obtained their Ghana cards.
Listening to the submission, I instantly felt the staff could be in ‘trouble’ for expressing such a candid view. But on a second thought, I think it would be appropriate if those pushing for the March deadline take into account the existing challenges of the NIA and reverse the decision to end the SIM re-registration in March.
The government must not be too rigid because rushing the re-registration process may create more problems in future than we are trying to solve. After all, citizens did not call for the re-registration in the first place so they should be given ample time to go through the process. An extension of the deadline is possible and it must be done.
Franklin Adu-Adjei,
Trantra Hill, Accra.
Dear Editor,
It is often said that a healthy nation is a wealthy nation. However, this saying becomes worrying when the health of citizens is threatened by the conditions under which the food they consume daily is sold.
In Ghana, the conditions under which food is sold is quite disturbing. Over the years, I have observed that the environments where food is prepared and sold are often unhygienic.
In many cases, containers holding food such as rice and waakye are left uncovered or not properly covered, exposing them to contamination.
While many Ghanaians paid little attention in the past to the conditions under which food was sold, the narrative seems to be changing in recent years.
I recall an incident during my days in Senior High School (S.H.S.) when my friends and I went out to buy food. At one location, some of us chose not to buy because we assumed the food would be expensive due to how neat the place looked.
Unfortunately, we ended up purchasing food from a different place that was somewhat unhygienic. We overlooked the poor conditions because we believed the quantity offered was better than at the cleaner location.
However, I am certain that my friends and I would not repeat such a mistake today, as we now understand the health implications of that decision.
While public education is important in addressing this issue, I believe it is time for regulatory and law enforcement agencies, such as the Food and Drug Authority (FDA), to crack the whip on food sellers and vendors who operate in unhygienic environments and conditions.
As citizens, we must also be mindful of where we buy our food to protect ourselves and our families from diseases and illnesses. We should choose ‘quality’ over ‘quantity’ and prioritize our health.
From Syram
Oyarifa
Dear Editor,
I write to express concern and call for improved security measures before and after every football match.
The recent robbery attack that led to the tragic death of a player, on their return from a Match day 29 game against Samartex, is both shocking and heartbreaking.
The incident, which reportedly occurred around 10:30 p.m., highlights the growing risks faced by players and team officials while traveling.
Football is meant to unite and entertain, not to expose lives to danger. It is therefore imperative that authorities, the Ghana Football Association, and security agencies put in place adequate protection for teams, especially during late-night travels.
I strongly urge all stakeholders to treat this matter with urgency to prevent such unfortunate incidents from recurring.
From Eugene Ampiaw
Accra
