Editorial
Let’s make Accra the cleanest city in Africa
Dear Editor,
Sanitation in Accra has become a pressing topic over the years.
Accra was previously a very beautiful and attractive city in nature. People came from far and near to see the beauty of this wonderful city. It was a city enriched with Ghanaian culture which attracted both tourists and investors.
One may argue that some of the above mentioned qualities still hold, but then, these people are now greeted with heaps of rubbish and overflowing dustbins at bus stops, markets and all around the city.
Plastic and rubber bags dispersed along walkways and road sides. Gutters choked with rubbers and stagnant waters releasing bad and unpleasant smells polluting the air, making it uncomfortable to walk around the city and creating an unsafe atmosphere.
All these are caused by poor sanitation behaviours of the citizens. Littering around, dumping of waste material in gutters which gets the choked.
These activities also cause floods during the rainy season. Stagnant waters also breeds mosquitoes which leads to malaria outbreaks. Other diseases like cholera and diarrhea are also caused by these.
The government over the years has put in place measures to turn the situation around.
Apart from the government’s manifesto promise in 2017 to make Accra the cleanest city in Africa, there have been several campaigns and awareness creation to stem the tide.
In March 2022, the former minister for Sanitation and Water Resources, Mrs. Cecilia Abena Dapaah launched a bio-digester construction to help increase the number of toilets in the country.
Non-governmental organizations like Water Aid have also contributed to making Accra very clean.
Groups like the Bus Stop boys have organised clean up exercises to make the city clean.
There is also the Clean Ghana Sanitation Project which is committed to providing portable toilet facilities and sanitation services to low income residents in Ghana.
The question, therefore, is when this agenda would be achieved.
It all boils down to the citizens. We all have to make up our minds to come together and restore the true identity of Accra. Let’s make it the once beautiful city we knew.
Eunice Tetteh
tetteheunice246@gmail.com
University of Media Arts and Communication-Institute of Journalism
UNIMAC-IJ (Faculty of Journalism)
NAASHORMEYCHRISTABEL@GMAIL. COM
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
