Editorial
Government must fix bad roads in Ashaiman
Ashaiman road
Dear Editor,
I write to express my deepest concern regarding the deteriorating road infrastructure in our beloved country, particularly in the capital, Accra.
The dire situation of our roads, exemplified by the alarming condition of the Tema-Motorway, has prompted this urgent appeal for action.
First and foremost, I must commend the government for its responsiveness in addressing the deplorable state of the Tema-Motorway. It is heartening to see that our leaders are attuned to the concerns of the populace and are taking steps to rectify the situation.
However, this is but a single thread in the larger tapestry of road-related challenges that our nation faces.
The Tema-Motorway serves as a microcosm of the issues plaguing our road network.
The very word “motorway” implies a high-speed and efficient route of transportation. Yet, the reality is far from this idyllic image.
Instead, commuters are subjected to a jumble of potholes, cracks, and crumbling asphalt that do not only endanger lives but also impede economic activities.
This dilapidation paints a bleak picture for both the residents of Accra and the countless individuals who rely on this crucial artery for their daily commute.
Moreover, the recent protest by the resilient citizens of Ashaiman on Tuesday, October 3, underscores the widespread anguish caused by our crumbling roads.
These brave individuals took to the streets, in a figurative and literal sense, to voice their discontent. They rightly demand urgent intervention to rehabilitate the road networks that have languished in disrepair for far too long.
The phrase “the squeaky wheel gets the grease” aptly applies here.
It is time for the government to heed the calls of its citizens and address the woeful condition of roads across our nation. Failing to do so would be akin to turning a blind eye to a wildfire that threatens to engulf our collective mobility and economic progress.
I implore the government to consider these concerns with the seriousness they deserve. It is not merely about fixing roads; it is about facilitating the movement of people, goods, and ideas.
Our roads should be the bedrock upon which progress is built, not the stumbling blocks that hinder it. Let us invest in a future where the phrase “bad roads” becomes a relic of the past and where our nation’s infrastructure is a source of pride rather than dismay.
George Obeng Osei, Ashaiman
Dear Editor,
The recent shooting to death of Javits Frimpong, a 15 year old Ghanaian student in Bronx, USA, is a heartbreaking reminder that bullying should never be dismissed as a normal part of growing up.
Reports indicate that the teenager had allegedly been subjected to bullying at school before he was fatally shot on his way to class.
While investigations continue and the exact motive yet to be officially established, the circumstances surrounding this tragedy have raised serious concerns about the impact of not checking bullying.
What makes this loss even more painful is that Javits Frimpong, had moved from Ghana to the United States with hopes of a brighter future through education. Instead, his life was cut short at an age when he should have been pursuing his dreams and preparing for adulthood.
Bullying is often viewed as harmless teasing, but its effects can be severe and long-lasting. Victims may suffer emotional trauma, anxiety, depression, poor academic performance, and, in extreme cases, become entangled in violence.
This incident should serve as a wake-up call to schools everywhere. Complaints of bullying must be taken seriously, investigated promptly, and addressed decisively before situations escalate.
Parents, teachers, school authorities, and community leaders all share a responsibility to create safe environments for young people.
Open communication, counselling services, anti-bullying education, and effective disciplinary measures can help protect vulnerable students.
Equally important is teaching young people respect, empathy, and peaceful conflict resolution.
As we mourn the loss of Javits Frimpong, let us also commit ourselves to ensuring that no other child loses their life because warning signs were ignored. The fight against bullying is not merely a school issue; it is a societal responsibility.
Yours faithfully,
Dansoman
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The recent report that 294 teenage girls in the Ayawaso West Municipality failed to receive their Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination is a depressing reminder of the gap between medical progress and public trust.
In a focused campaign with 997 girls the Roman Ridge Sub-Municipal Health Directorate reached a 70 percent coverage rate. Our public health professionals deserve praise for reaching 703 girls, but the remaining 30 percent pose a serious threat.
This shortfall is not due to a lack of institutional effort, logistics, or resources. The directorate had sufficient logistics, as highlighted by Public Health Nurse Patience Adoli Kporxah. Rather, the barrier was completely human: a lack of parental approval.
In Ghana, one of the top causes of cancer-related mortality for women is still cervical cancer. Ironically, it is also one of the most avoidable. The HPV vaccine is widely acknowledged as a safe, highly effective barrier that, when given early, can prevent up to 90 percent of cervical cancers.
Parents are unknowingly leaving their daughters vulnerable to a virus that they will probably come into contact with in the future by withholding approval.
This initiative was not initiated in secret by the health directorate. They coordinated with churches, mosques, and media outlets, spoke at Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) meetings, and sent letters to schools as part of their broad public outreach efforts. However, around 300 parents continued to withhold their signatures in spite of these multi-dimensional approaches.
Why is this resistance still present? Fear, cultural taboos, and false information about vaccines and reproductive health on the internet are the main causes of vaccine hesitation rather than an intent to hurt a child. When a vaccination is administered to young teenagers in schools, it may cause unjustified concerns about fertility and sexuality.
Our public health initiatives need to change in order to close this gap before the November and December phases.
Letters and the mass media are important, but they are unable to provide precise, worried answers. During PTA meetings, health staff could think about holding direct question and answer sessions so parents may express their worries without fear of being judged.
In order to normalise the vaccine, community elders, religious leaders, and reputable local physicians must do more than simply impart knowledge; they must openly support it.
We must present the HPV vaccine as a standard, life-saving cancer prevention tool that is now completely incorporated into Ghana’s regular immunisation programme.
The entrance is still open, according to public health officials. Daughters who did not participate in the school-based activity can still get the vaccination at no cost by taking them to any government health institution.
We must work together to prevent cervical cancer in the future generation. The infrastructure, education, and dosages have been supplied by public health teams. The trust must now be provided by the parents of Ayawaso West and Ghana as a whole.
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