Editorial
Let’s have hope in our Black Stars
In a few days, the World Cup will begin in Qatar, and looking at all the teams that are taking part in the competition, many Ghanaians are wondering whether the Black Stars will be able to live up to expectations.
It is important for every Ghanaian to note that the players for Ghana are world-class players who are prepared to die for their country. For this reason, Ghanaians need hope to support the team.
Massive support for the Black Stars is what we need at this time. It is only Ghanaians themselves who can support the players, wish them well, and pray for their victory. All 31 million Ghanaians cannot go to Qatar to play in the World Cup. What can be done is for each of us to pray for the Black Stars and their technical team and wish them well so they can give us the victory we need.
It will be good if Ghana emerges the most successful African team in the competition, moving from the group stages and successfully going through the one-sixteenth stage and also a quarter final and moving on further into the semi finals and getting to the grand finale.
What a wonderful achievement it will be for Ghanaians and all Africans! It may sound like an impossible dream, but in this world, every achievement is possible if you plan well.
Ghana has a team that can pull a surprise at the tournament based on the calibre of members of the technical team as well as individual Black Star players. They will face Portugal, South Korea, and Uruguay in the group stages. These are tough teams that are likely to put fear into any African team.
What the Black Stars need to do is not entertain fear for any of the competing teams, irrespective of the FIFA ranking they are given. They can remain composed and approach each match with seriousness and strategy.
The Black Stars must do all they can then win their first match against Portugal, irrespective of how difficult it may be, so as to open the opportunity for them to win their remaining matches and qualify for the next stage of the competition.
After winning against Portugal, they can then prepare well and win the matches against Uruguay and South Korea.
This feat can be achieved, so the Black Stars and their technical team must work toward it and make it come to pass.
Everything is possible in this world. In light of this, the team must be courageous enough to overcome all the challenges that they may face. If they are able to do this, the Black Stars of Africa will be placed higher during the tournament.
We also need to pray for the Stars, as has already been pointed out, so that every possible blessing and good luck can come their way. During such tournaments, the decisions of referees and confrontations by the opposing teams during matches are also important, which explains why the blessings of the Almighty God (Allah) will be needed for the Black Stars.
As we enter the tournament, let all Ghanaians go down on their knees and pray for the team so that we can do better for the nation.
This is our goal, and we must do all we can to achieve what is unimaginable for the country.
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
