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.
Dear Editor,
I WRITE to condemn the circumstances under which an accident victim died recently after three major hospitals reportedly turned him away due to what has earned a place in our local parlance as ‘no bed syndrome.’
Reports suggested that this motor rider who got knocked by a vehicle was taken to three major hospitals – Police Hospital, Greater Accra Regional Hospital (Ridge Hospital), and the Korle-bu Teaching Hospital – but they all claimed they had no beds.
But one may ask, would there ever be beds?
Such is the treatment Ghanaians endure every now and then when one visits our hospitals, especially the public ones which are run with the taxpayers’ money. Many a time when one visits the hospitals, the sight of patients admitted and lying on benches, and some sitting on chairs while receiving care, is visible to all; making one wonder why this particular motor rider was not admitted at any of the facilities, looking at his condition.
This leads to the reason for this letter, which is to bring out a perceived apathy against these motor riders, the majority of whom are referred to as ‘Okada’ riders.
Due to their recklessness on the roads and the inconvenience caused to commuters, people always speak ill about them; drivers equally have no regard for them. Every user of public transport would attest to this. These riders are blamed for every offence, even when it is obvious drivers may be at fault sometimes.
Motor riders have become like orphans on the road; people care less about them, and when they are unfortunately knocked down, no one cares about them.
This is the mischief our authorities and agencies, including the police, must seek to cure to make the road safe for all users.
These are young folks that want to make a living for themselves, and with no skill or education, ‘Okada’ rides have become their source of livelihood. They need the protection accorded drivers and commuters as well.
In other countries, some facilities have been provided to make their work safer, but in Ghana, we lack them, leaving them with no alternative than to share the available space with the cars.
What has happened should serve as a wake-up call on our authorities to aim to take a second look at the ‘Okada’ menace. With the numbers increasing, there should be a way to regulate them because no government would have the guts to ban it totally.
Drivers should be made to accept the reality that they are sharing the roads with them, and therefore the need for patience and tolerance.
For some of our hospitals, I suggest the Ministry of Health conduct their own investigations to see what patients go through in accessing medicare, which is even not for free.
Thank you, Editor, for the space.
F. Morgan, Kokrobite
Dear Editor,
THE heartbreaking death of 29-year-old engineer Charles Amissah in a hit-and-run accident has exposed once again the failures in our health system.
Even more painful is the fact that his father had previously donated beds to some hospitals, yet when his son needed urgent care, he was moved from one facility to another because there were ‘no beds.’
This is not only tragic but unacceptable. How can a country lose its bright young citizens simply because hospitals cannot provide emergency treatment? The ‘no bed syndrome’ has become a national disgrace, and Charles’ death is a reminder that reforms cannot wait.
Our hospitals must be equipped to handle emergencies, and accountability must be enforced. If donations are made to improve facilities, then those facilities must serve the people when it matters most. Ghana cannot afford to keep losing lives to negligence and poor infrastructure.
Charles Amissah’s death should be the turning point. Let us honor his memory by fixing the system so that no family would suffer this kind of preventable loss again.
Princess Wonovi
Accra
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