Editorial
Indecency in the name of fashion?
Dear Editor,
The purpose of clothes is to cover our bodies, but presently, the youth would rather wear transparent and tattered clothes and term it as “slaying” or “drip”.
Funnily enough, these transparent and tattered clothes are more expensive than regular or let me say, “full coverage” clothes. I went through Instagram and the prices were shocking.
I happened to come across a lady, who was wearing a pair of tattered jeans trousers, that had an open front (the whole thigh to ankle area was bare), even her bum area, was tattered.
I asked myself this question: What had happened to morals? Have people forgotten that, the way we dress, speaks a lot about us?
Braids among men, seem to be common amongst the present day youth and some women also have multiple piercings to the extreme of piercing their nipples and clitoris.
Some adults and popular persons who dress this way, take pictures and post on social media platforms. Others wear inappropriate clothes to church and when asked, they say: “Worship is from the heart and not with what you wear”.
We have copied Western cultures but do we see these people we are copying from, go the extreme we are going? Indecency has been covered up with the term “fashion” by the present day youth.
Sabina Nortey,
Student, Ghana Institute of Journalism.
Dealing with social media ‘pressure’
Social networking has now gained grounds and become a driving force on its own. Inasmuch as social media has done us some good, it has, to some extent, caused us to compare our lives with others.
Many people tend to think or assume that posts made on social media reflect in real life when in actuality, most of them are ‘staged events’.
A lot of people have built a certain personality online which doesn’t correspond with their lifestyle in real life and it is sometimes tempting to think that some colleagues are doing better than you.
As it appears that some people are manipulated or influenced by things they view on social media, it is important to provide support for young people who find themselves in this ‘quagmire.’
Parents need to monitor their children who are exposed to social media and lookout also for signs of depression, anxiety, misbehaviour, and among others.
Parents should learn to appreciate the efforts of their kids. Encourage them, teach them to believe in themselves, and become positive-minded individuals.
Individuals should follow people who share the same values and interests as theirs and do well to avoid people who indulge in unhealthy activities such as drugs, alcoholism, among other negative things.
It is important to follow positive things only and try to network with people who have the same interests.
Nathalie Afful,
Student, Ghana Institute of Journalism.
Dear Editor
I wish to draw attention to the increasing number of children begging for alms on the streets of the capital.
This has become a common sight at traffic lights, markets and busy intersections.
Many of these children should be in school, but instead they spend long hours under the hot sun and in dangerous traffic.
Sadly, they are sometimes found in the company of their parents, the same people expected to ensure that these minors spend those hours in school.
These children are usually exposed to accidents, exploitation and abuse. The situation does not only affects their future but also reflects poorly on our society.
I appeal to parents and guardians to take greater responsibility for their children.
I also urge the government, the Department of Social Welfare and other relevant agencies to intensify efforts to rescue these children, provide them with education and support their families where necessary.
I also wish to employ the ‘Samaritans’ who gives money to these children to also spend a few seconds to ask these children why they beg for alms on the street and not going to school.
Getting these children off the street must now be seen as a shared responsibility.
Every child deserves a safe home, quality education and the opportunity to achieve their full potential. By working together, we can reduce street begging and give these children a brighter future.
From Eugene Ampiaw,
Dansoman
In addition to the severe flooding that Accra is already experiencing a major sanitation crisis is imminent as the Kpone dump approaches closure.
Currently, there are now just two significant disposal sites in the area: the Adepa dumpsite in the Ga West Municipal Assembly, which is close to Amasaman, and the Kpone Waste Landfill.
Inquiries so far, revealed that the Kpone site is almost at capacity and will likely close in the next six months. As a result, waste is accumulating at local markets and municipal collection points throughout the capital.
The situation has been made worse by the recent terrible floods, and immediate action is required to prevent the impending crisis.
The fundamental issue is that accumulating uncollected waste during rainy seasons poses significant threats to public health, including the possibility of cholera, typhoid, and malaria outbreaks.
Subsequent investigations showed that the Kpone plant, which was initially built to manage 500 tonnes of waste per day, has been handling almost twice that much, shortening its lifespan.
Many towns’ waste collection operations have been badly impacted by this looming shutdown, and the fact that Accra has few disposal choices is even more disturbing.
Now, waste collection vehicles face abnormally long queues at the Kpone site, and residents complain that most of the tricycles, referred to as “Aboboyaa,” leave rubbish uncollected in residential and commercial areas.
Although the Zoompak waste transfer station was authorised by the government to reopen in order to help manage daily waste volumes, it is still unable to handle the enormous volumes of waste generated every day.
According to Dr. Peter Kwesi Dagadu, Managing Director of the Landfills Company Limited, managing the capital’s expanding waste burden has become extremely difficult due to the scarcity of disposal facilities, especially in light of the city’s fast population increase and rising waste production.
As a result, the situation has put a great deal of strain on the infrastructure already in place and jeopardizes attempts to keep Accra’s waste management system sustainable and effective.
The Spectator agrees with him that new infrastructure for disposing of waste is desperately needed, as a change to a more environmentally friendly waste management techniques.
It is admirable that he suggests Ghana adopt recycling and garbage recovery as a long-term solution to the nation’s sanitation problems.
We therefore, implore the government to support this recycling objective by enacting strict laws, regulations, investments, and enforcement measures to enhance waste management nationwide.
In order to address the waste problem as quickly as possible, everyone must be involved, including private waste management companies, individuals, and households.
