Editorial
Hawkers invade Tema Community One pavement
A session of the pavement invaded by traders
Dear Editor,
It is common knowledge that some traders across the various cities in Ghana use the pavements meant for pedestrians to sell their wares and Tema, the ‘model city’ of Ghana’s first president, Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, is gradually losing its shine to this canker.
Selling on pavements has become a common practice at Tema Community One. The activities of these hawkers generate filth, cause human traffic, choke drains as well as cause vehicular congestion.
The situation is getting worse by the day following the inability of the Tema Municipal Assembly’s Task Force to live up to the task by clearing these hawkers.
These traders, mostly small-scale traders, set up their temporary shops on the pavements in order to sell their goods or render their services to passers-by. They sell a variety of goods including vegetables, fruits, household items, clothes and shoes.
While this practice provides a means of livelihood for people who would otherwise be unemployed, it poses numerous challenges of which the traders don’t seem to bother. It obstructs pedestrian movement and often causes congestion on the streets. The presence of these traders on the pavements creates a safety hazard for both the traders and pedestrians alike, as they often have to contend with vehicles and motorcycles racing along the streets. The sanitary conditions of the marketplaces on pavements are often poor, which pose a health risk for both the traders and the consumers. Garbage and waste is often left uncollected, and this creates an unsanitary environment with the potential of spreading diseases.
In an interview with some traders, their reason for trading on the pavement and the roads is due to lack of market space as majority of Ghanaians prefer to buy from the road side to the established markets. Some of these vendors on the pavements and roads said they make profit selling by the road side compared with the established markets.
A waakye seller Hajia Mariam said she sold her food early in the morning to those going to work along the road side.
Despite these challenges, the practice of traders selling on the pavements persists because, it provides an affordable option for many consumers who cannot afford to buy goods at the established markets like the Malls and the Shoprite. However, there is the need for the government to intervene and manage this informal trading sector for the safety and well-being of both the traders and the public.
Eva Boamah
Ghana Institute of Journalism (GIJ)
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
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