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,
I wish to use this esteemed platform to urge the traditional councils of Osu and La to call for independent investigation into the recent demolition exercise at Kaajaano.
The exercise rendered hundreds homeless.
Information about the reason for the demolition has been scanty with those desiring to know feeding heavily on social media posts.
One particular name –Jato, has been associated with it but under whose instruction the exercise was carried is also not known.
Sadly, instead of getting to know who ordered the demolition and for what reasons, traditional authorities of Osu and La have been embroiled in a tug-of-war over ownership of the said land.
This is premature. At this moment, they should call for investigation into the exercise to know the people behind it.
When that is done, then discussions about the owners of the site can begin. That would end the posture of the two neighbouring town which has the potential to turn into something else.
Ataa Osa Mensah,
Osu
Dear Editor,
I wish to use your respected platform to draw the attention of the Bank of Ghana (BoG) to the behaviour of traders and some drivers about the use of lower denomination coins, specifically the 20 and 10 pesewas.
About two weeks ago, I read in your sister newspaper, The Ghanaian Times about this problem and the caution that followed from the BoG and some economic analysts.
The warning they gave was that the continuous rejection of the notes could create pricing problems which can eventually affect inflation.
I thought that would put to bed that practice or refusal to accept the coins when given out as change or use to pay for particular service.
Unfortunately, the problem still persist among traders, drivers, customers and passengers alike. Only last week, there was as altercation in the Accra Central area where a woman refused to accept five 20 pesewas note totaling one cedi.
As the argument continued, the trader decided not to sell to the customer again after by-standers explained to her that it was still a legal tender and those that refused it could become offenders.
This is an issue the BoG and other regulatory agencies must go and explain to the people and let them know that it is unlawful not to accept a currency that is still in use.
It nothing was done, it could create a much more serious problems.
Mary Osei Badu,
Swedru
