Editorial
How ready are we for the rains?
Dear Editor,
I want to use this opportunity to remind Ghanaians on the need to keep our drainages clean and free of filth as the rains set in.
Flooding remains a perennial problem in Ghana and this year would be no exception.
Not trying to sound extremely skeptical, one can clearly see that the problems that cause the perennial flooding are still there; nothing has been done about them.
Walking around town, one can see the gutters choked with weeds, polythene waste and others that impede the free flow of flood water.
Inhabitants around such drainages are also still dumping refuse in them.
It is also obvious that people are still building on water ways. All of these contribute to compound the flood related problems every year.
As we approach another rainy season, my appeal goes to the city authorities in charge of sanitation. They must hit the various townships and inspect sanitation and enforce the by-laws.
Those in charge of disilting the huge drainages must also be seen to be working so that flood waters can flow freely.
As people, we must also show some level of responsibility by keeping our communities clean. If there are gutters in front of our homes, we must try to keep them clean so that the onset of rains would not come with pandemics.
Joy Amesime,
Kaneshie
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
