Editorial
Let’s ensure safety in our activities
Many a time people take the issue of quality for granted even though this should not be the case. What everyone should bear in mind is that without safety our lives cannot be guaranteed or be adequately protected and what we have fought for over the years, can be destroyed in no time.
The purpose of safety in our lives is to protect us from all dangers, so that we can preserve life and property in society.
As we look around the country, we will notice that many of us have put our lives in danger. If we look at some of the buildings, it will be seen that we use very cheap materials and because of this the buildings can collapse on us at any point in time.
Apart from the use of cheap materials, there is also the danger of illegal connections of electricity. Sub-standard electrical wires are often used and these can also pose danger to us.
All these account for why we often experience fire outbreaks in many parts of the country. Fire outbreaks destroy our houses, our offices and many other places like shops and market centres.
In the light of all this, it is better to pay attention to the activities we undertake and ensure that safety becomes our primary concern in everything we do. Without safety, our activities are likely to always be in danger. When this happens on one can be guaranteed of long life in the country.
It is true that we have institutions like the police and the military as well as National Disaster Management Organisation and Ghana National Fire Service to cater for any dangers that may occur to us wherever we find ourselves.
In spite of this, however, we all need to ensure that safety measures are taken in our homes and offices as well as in marketplaces.
The recent explosion at Appiatse in the Western Region should be a lesson to all of us. Many lives have been lost and apart from that, properties and means of livelihood of the people have also been lost.
It is said that efforts have been made by the government to rebuild the community and also restore the means of livelihood to the people. This is good.
The company responsible for this disaster must be brought to book because of the numerous lives that have been lost. The management of the company must be disciplined also and made to pay compensation to the community. It is true that people are making contributions towards the redevelopment of the community, but the law must be applied, so that every person who played a role towards the occurrence of that disaster will bear the consequences of their action without fear or favour.
While showing concern for safety measures in all communities, we commend government for the various steps it has taken so far, including the Development Fund set up to support Appiatse. We are happy about this development.
The Spectator is also very happy about the willingness of many individuals and organisations to contribute to the fund. It is our wish that the community will be developed to look even far better than its original form.
However, we are of the view that safety measures should be taken seriously by all people in this country, so as to be able to prevent such disasters from occurring. If we are able to do this, it will help the country as a whole and preserve lives and properties.
We should, therefore, bear in mind that without safety our lives would always be in danger, so we need to take safety measures as a priority with the aim of preserving lives and property in the country.
Editorial
Urgent call to address sanitation, environmental neglect at Legon City Campus, Makola-Tudu Junction
Dear Editor
Ghana is grappling with mounting sanitation and environmental neglect and as a concerned citizen and advocate for a cleaner, safer and more presentable academic environment, I feel compelled to highlight disturbing issues I encountered during a recent visit to the enclave of Workers College, currently operating as Legon City Campus of the University of Ghana as well as Accra Central, specifically the stretch from Makola towards Tudu, just after the Ghana National Fire Service office.
At the Legon City Campus, formerly known as Workers College, widespread overgrowth of weeds along campus walls and walkways poses both safety and structural risks.
The unchecked vegetation is encroaching on pedestrian pathways and threatening the stability of surrounding walls.
Behind the campus, near the road to Adabraka and Liberia Road, garbage and overgrown weeds have turned the area into an eyesore, undermining the prestige of one of Ghana’s premier universities.
The environmental degradation reflects poorly on the institution’s leadership and jeopardizes student and community health.
I would like to urge the University of Ghana Estate Department to act immediately, clearing the weeds, reinforcing structural elements, cleaning the garbage-strewn areas, and establishing a consistent maintenance schedule.
This will ensure safety, institutional pride and civic responsibility.
In Accra Central, a similar crisis is festering. A growing heap of refuse near the Makola-Tudu Junction, just past the Ghana National Fire Service office has overwhelmed pedestrian walkways and spilled into vehicular lanes.
This not only causes human and traffic congestion but also creates a hazardous public health situation in one of the city’s busiest commercial zones.
As a tour guide and advocate for Ghana’s tourism industry, this development has damaging impact on the country’s image.
Tourists encountering filth in the capital’s core are left with a negative impression, counteracting national efforts to boost tourism.
I therefore call on the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA), Osu Klottey Municipal Assembly, and sanitation agencies to enforce waste management laws, improve public hygiene infrastructure and revive the National Sanitation Day initiative to foster civic responsibility.
It is time for authorities at all levels to demonstrate leadership and restore dignity to these vital spaces. The status quo is no longer acceptable.
Frederick Nortey (Traveler, Tour Guide, Blogger, Writer)
Accra
Editorial
Renovate Efua Sutherland Children’s Park
The Efua Sutherland Children’s Park at West Ridge in the Greater Accra Region, now in ruins, needs renovations.
The once-vibrant recreational centre for children, families, students, and tourists is now in a state of neglect, according to our reporter who visited the place.
Efua Sutherland, a well-known playwright and children’s author, is honoured by the Park, an important recreational and cultural area. Her work with children made her a notable figure in Ghanaian literature and education.
The Park used to be well-known and a popular destination for schoolchildren, particularly during vacation, but today visitors are met with outdated machinery and dilapidated infrastructure.
A vital green space in the city, the park provides a calm setting for families and children to unwind, play, and take part in cultural events. It is relevant because it fosters community life, offers recreational opportunities, hosts cultural events, and connects people to their Ghanaian heritage.
Additionally, both locals and visitors may easily access it due to its central location. Nothing seems to have been done to update the space or give it a facelift.
During The Spectator’s tour of the facility it was observed that the 14.83-acre playground’s equipment has rusted and turned into death traps instead of serving the intended purpose of entertaining guests.
Children are put off by the condition of the equipment because they are afraid of getting hurt. Inquiries at the location also showed that few people visit to inquire about the place and that its current condition makes it unappealing for event planners to host special events there. This calls into question the country’s dedication to maintaining such iconic and public areas.
There is an urgent need to address the terrible situation.
In order to ensure that events are hosted in the park, The Spectator urges the Ministry of Gender, Women and Social Protection (MCWSP), which is in charge of overseeing the facility, to collaborate with investors and other stakeholders to give it a facelift.
We think that if the Park is renovated, it will draw more event planners and regain its reputation as a communal hub that promotes cultural pride and a sense of belonging.
