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Editorial

Let’s stand against body-shaming

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Dear Editor,

Body-shaming is a phenomenon of criticising yourself or others because of some aspect of physical appearance.

Criticising another’s appearance in front of them, (i.e.: “With those thighs, you’re never going to find a date.”) Criticising another’s appearance without their knowledge. (i.e.:“Did you see what she’s wearing today? Not flattering.” “At least you don’t look like her!”)

Females are not the only ones who are body-shamed but males also, and it’s clear that ladies are the ones who are mostly criticized on their body sizes.

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Body-shaming is not only talking bad about the physical appearance of both genders but also when someone receives insults such as  “your head like car tyre”  “your big eyes like eggs”  “ your tiny legs like chopsticks” and a whole lot, are also body shaming.

People used to appreciate other forms of body stature and shapes but the story has changed. In this article I point out the problems and its various shades.

Whether you call someone “too fat” or “too slim,” one thing is clear: nobody should feel ashamed of their weight, clothing size, body-shape or have low self esteem on their beauty or looks.

The media is one of the main cause of body shaming.  The media sometimes offer tips about how to lose weight “in days,” appear slimmer “instantly,” and hide our “imperfections.

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Walden Behavioral Care however provides some tips on how to curb body- shaming. In order to challenge body shaming one most do the following:

Practise identifying why you are upset about a situation. Think of people who celebrate their body for what it can do, and people who refuse to comment on others’ physical appearances.

Spending time with these people can be especially helpful while you are struggling with your own internalised body-shaming, and help you view yourself – and others – more positively.

Find something (or things) you LIKE about your body. We spend so much time on advertisements about how to make our eyelashes millimetres longer and how to get whiter teeth that it’d be nice to counter some of that by celebrating what we.

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Edward Nartey,

Student, Ghana Institute of Journalism

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Editorial

Solve street lights problem at Wawase

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Dear Editor,

I AM writing to draw your attention to the inadequate street lights in some parts of Wawase, a situation that continues to pose serious concerns for residents.

Street lights play a crucial role in ensuring safety and security within a community. Unfortunately, several areas in Wawase are completely without functioning street lights.

This has made movement at night very difficult and dangerous, especially for workers, students, and traders who return home late.

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The lack of proper lighting has also created an enabling environment for criminal activities such as theft and harassment. Residents often live in fear, and some are forced to limit their movements after dark. Additionally, poor visibility increases the risk of road accidents, putting both pedestrians and drivers at risk.

It is concerning that despite the growing population and development in Wawase, this basic infrastructure issue remains unresolved.

I would like to appeal to the relevant authorities, including the local assembly and electricity providers, to urgently address this problem by installing new street lights and repairing faulty ones.

Ensuring adequate street lights will not only improve security but also enhance the overall quality of life for residents in the area.

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Gwen Mensah, Agona Swedru

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Editorial

Temporary closure of Kaneshie footbridge good, but…

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MCE of Accra Metropilitan Assembly (AMA) Michael Kpakpo Allotey
MCE of Accra Metropilitan Assembly (AMA) Michael Kpakpo Allotey

Dear Editor,

FOR some time now, I have been deeply concerned about the state of the Kaneshie footbridge, which has over the years developed cracks, exposing some rusted metal parts and raising safety concerns.

It is, therefore, welcome news for daily users of the facility like myself that a team from the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA), led by the Metropolitan Chief Executive (MCE), visited the facility and announced a temporary closure to allow for maintenance work to be carried out.

While I wish to commend the Assembly for the move, I believe it has been long overdue.

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I often find it difficult to understand why, as a country, we sit, wait, and watch for preventable incidents or tragedies to happen before we react. I say this because the issue of the bad state of the Kaneshie footbridge has been one that has been re-echoed by many who use it on a daily basis.

I believe that as the Assembly looks to start the maintenance works on the footbridge, it is also important for it and other Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies (MMDAs) to pay attention to other footbridges across the country that are in a similar state.

The time has come for Ghana, as a country, to be more proactive than reactive.

I will also urge the assemblies to deploy their respective teams to always check on footbridges across the country to ensure that they are in good shape to avoid any tragedy that could lead to the loss of human lives.

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From Fafa, Kaneshie

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