Editorial
Keep minors away from political party grounds
A child (circled) who is asleep at a political party rally
Dear Editor,
I write to express my displeasure about a worrying trend of parents and guardians taking minors to political party rallies.
These little ones have no business being at the programme because the laws of the country prohibits minors from engaging in political party activities.
I once saw a boy of about four years exhausted and sweating profusely, and after a long period of discomfort, the poor boy slept-off in the scorching sun.
It took the intervention of some concerned persons who advised the parents and guardians to take the little child home.
This situation is taking place all over the country at almost every political party rally.
It appears many of such adults are oblivious of the dangers about taking minors to such functions.
For instance, many organisers don’t factor minors in their safety and security preparations; so these vulnerable children are usually at confusion break-out.
In the case of infants, chances of the child’s health being compromised due to possibly unsanitary conditions, and the possibility of diseases and illnesses of various forms being transmitted is equally high.
Parents and political parties must make it a responsibility in order to ensure that minors stay away from such activities to be safe at all time.
The security agencies, especially the Police is thereby called up to find innovative ways to keep these vulnerable children away from rally grounds.
Dzifa Tetteh Tay,
Ashaiman
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
