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.
Basic education is widely considered a fundamental human right for all children, regardless of their community, age, or background. Providing good educational infrastructure is critical, as it directly influences educational quality, academic performance, and overall community development. The physical environment of schools shapes the future of children, who are the leaders of tomorrow.
However, the Nanvili Community School in the Mion district of the Northern Region faces severe infrastructural challenges, negatively affecting teaching and learning. The school serves five surrounding communities, with a total of 58 pupils. Observations during a visit revealed that the classrooms have deteriorated so badly that many children have stopped attending classes.
The poor condition of classrooms and lack of desks has made teaching and learning extremely difficult. More concerning is that the three gate-free classrooms are filled with goat and sheep droppings, creating a health hazard for pupils. During the rainy season, teachers and students are often cut off from the school due to bad roads and flooding, leading to weeks of suspended teaching activities, which further affects academic performance.
The Assemblyman for the area, Mr. Dawuni Mutawakil, expressed worry that pupils from Nanvili are expected to compete with their counterparts in urban areas who have access to better facilities. He emphasized the urgent need to provide desks and adequate classroom space to separate the merged classes.
The Chief of Nanvili, Abu Kassim, also appealed to the government and non-governmental organizations to assist the community. He noted that the current state of the school discourages children from nearby communities from attending, further highlighting the need for urgent intervention.
The Spectator joins local leaders in calling for immediate action to improve infrastructure and provide furniture, ensuring quality education for children in the Nanvili community.
By Geoffrey Buta, Nanvili, Northern Region
Spectator
Join our WhatsApp Channel now!
https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VbBElzjInlqHhl1aTU27
Dear Editor,
As December fast approaches and Christmas shopping begins, I wish to draw the attention of the Municipal and District Assemblies to the urgent need for measures that ensure orderliness in public spaces.
A few months after decongestion exercises were carried out in various municipalities, it appears that drivers and hawkers who were moved to designated areas are gradually returning. As a regular visitor to Accra Central and Nkrumah Circle, I have observed that hawkers are slowly filling pavements that had been cleared.
During the decongestion period, we hoped that hawkers would remain off the pavements entirely to allow commuters to move freely. However, while boundaries were marked with red paint, the hawkers are gradually encroaching beyond these limits, significantly narrowing the space left for pedestrians.
What is particularly concerning is that this is happening in full view of authorities, whose officers patrol the area daily. With the Christmas season approaching, these pavements will become even more congested as hawkers attempt to occupy every available space.
This is the time for Municipal and District Assemblies to assert their presence and enforce rules to prevent the situation from worsening. A stitch in time saves nine, and proactive measures now will prevent larger problems later.
By Regina Amoh, Accra
Spectator
Join our WhatsApp Channel now!
https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VbBElzjInlqHhl1aTU27
