Editorial
Fix street lights at Asikasu Central
Street lights along the stretch do not function
Dear Editor,
In Ghana, about three per cent of electricity of tarrifs are for installation and maintenance of street lights.
But, it appears Asikasu Central is an exception as the unavailability of streetlights along some streets is affecting drivers and motorist thus paving the way for criminal activities.
On a recent visit to the area, I saw how dark some of the major streets had become. I realised some electricity poles meant to hold lamps on one of the roads connecting the area to Koforidua were not serving that purpose.
The darkness on the stretch poses great danger to the people. I gathered there was a dark curve on the road where robbers terrorised pedestrians as the place was not lit.
Some residents say the streetlights in the village are only fixed with it was time for general election. There are a few solar-powered lights dotted along the streets and many of them are dim at night.
I am told some residents who travel to Koforidua to transact business refuse to return home whenever it is late due to the ‘danger on the road. Some of them spend the night at the bus terminal until the next morning before they make a return journey.
The lack of streetlights somewhat emboldens armed robbers to attack shop owners along the road. Driver say the dark road causes accidents as some of them also try as much as possible to avoid night travel. Other residents say some taxi drivers sometimes knock down pedestrians and speed off due to the darkness on the street.
I would like to use your medium to urge the local authority to ensure that the street light challenge is resolved quickly to make the area safer for the people.
Bismark Oppong Kofi Addae,
Student, Ghana Institute of Journalist, 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
