Editorial
Ghana Card registration: Needles back and forth process
Dear Editor,
After nearly two years of waiting for my National Identification Card (Ghana Card), I decided, on Tuesday morning, to pass by the NIA District Office at the Ledzokuku Municipal Assembly, where I was told my card had been dispatched.
Security men at the entrance of the assembly welcomed me with a smile and directed me to the room the NIA staff were accommodated. I entered confidently to grab my card so I could go ahead and register my SIM card that same week.
There was a queue at the entrance with new registrants trying to go through various processes. But I went ahead to speak to an NIA officer and I told her my mission there. I was not made to land before the young skinny lady told me: “our system is down.”
That, definitely, was not the response I was expecting so I probed further and she then gave me a winding explanation that they still needed to capture my finger print in the “system” before they issued the card to me. I asked “when will the system be restored” and the response was “I don’t know.”
I left the premises thinking about the cumbersome nature of the entire NIA registration and why it would certainly not be the fault of citizens if they are unable to register their SIM cards by the supposed March 31 deadline.
I thought issuance of card should be done without any “system” challenges after my previous follow-ups led to different excuses as to why the card could not be printed the same month I did the registration.
I went to a local NIA registration centre in August 2020 and here I am in March 2022, still chasing my card due to a “system” challenge. I know I would get it eventually but I must say the back and forth are needless, to say the least.
Prince Opoku-Gyamerah,
Teshie-First Junction,
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
