Editorial
Make Mother’s Day memorable tomorrow
Tomorrow is Mother’s Day, a day which is observed around the world as a unique way to honour mothers and maternal figures for their devotion, selflessness, and contributions to society and the family.
Mother’s Day is celebrated on the second Sunday of the month of May and this year it falls on May 11. The Day is important because it serves as a reminder of how important mothers are influencing people’s lives and raising future generations.
Additionally, it is a day to honour all mothers who have had significant influences on their children’s life, including biological mothers, grandmothers, stepmothers, adoptive mothers, and others.
Besides giving birth, a woman might become a mother by taking on the responsibilities of raising children who are not biologically hers.
Numerous mothers have provided food, clothes, and shelter to innumerable children in orphanages, and these youngsters have grown up to be responsible adults who are fulfilling their heavenly destinies.
One cannot deny the fact that families and communities are built on the leadership, unselfish love and sacrifices of mothers.
The expectation is that families will have ample time tomorrow to hold get-togethers, and neighbourhood activities honouring the achievements of mothers.
In recent years, Mother’s Day has also grown in importance for businesses. This is especially true for eateries and businesses that produce and market cards and other gifts.
Of course, mothers should be honoured every day, but it is especially crucial that we honour them on one day each year for everything they do to improve our lives.
Some people have made serious argument that husbands should not honour their wives on Mother’s Day since they are not their mothers. However, even though the wife is not your mother, she is the mother of your children, therefore she should not only be respected but also given priority. Keep in mind that one nice turn merits another, and that Father’s Day is coming up.
Although it is not always compulsory, recognising and honouring your wife as a mother on this day is a sign of respect and gratitude.
The Spectator says, regardless of the circumstances, whether close or remote, spend some time with your mother or mother figures if you can and express your gratitude to them through telephone calls, gifts, breakfast, lunch or dinner, get together among others for the special roles they have played in your life.
We wish all mothers a Happy Mother’s Day tomorrow.
Editorial
Urgent call to address sanitation, environmental neglect at Legon City Campus, Makola-Tudu Junction
Dear Editor
Ghana is grappling with mounting sanitation and environmental neglect and as a concerned citizen and advocate for a cleaner, safer and more presentable academic environment, I feel compelled to highlight disturbing issues I encountered during a recent visit to the enclave of Workers College, currently operating as Legon City Campus of the University of Ghana as well as Accra Central, specifically the stretch from Makola towards Tudu, just after the Ghana National Fire Service office.
At the Legon City Campus, formerly known as Workers College, widespread overgrowth of weeds along campus walls and walkways poses both safety and structural risks.
The unchecked vegetation is encroaching on pedestrian pathways and threatening the stability of surrounding walls.
Behind the campus, near the road to Adabraka and Liberia Road, garbage and overgrown weeds have turned the area into an eyesore, undermining the prestige of one of Ghana’s premier universities.
The environmental degradation reflects poorly on the institution’s leadership and jeopardizes student and community health.
I would like to urge the University of Ghana Estate Department to act immediately, clearing the weeds, reinforcing structural elements, cleaning the garbage-strewn areas, and establishing a consistent maintenance schedule.
This will ensure safety, institutional pride and civic responsibility.
In Accra Central, a similar crisis is festering. A growing heap of refuse near the Makola-Tudu Junction, just past the Ghana National Fire Service office has overwhelmed pedestrian walkways and spilled into vehicular lanes.
This not only causes human and traffic congestion but also creates a hazardous public health situation in one of the city’s busiest commercial zones.
As a tour guide and advocate for Ghana’s tourism industry, this development has damaging impact on the country’s image.
Tourists encountering filth in the capital’s core are left with a negative impression, counteracting national efforts to boost tourism.
I therefore call on the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA), Osu Klottey Municipal Assembly, and sanitation agencies to enforce waste management laws, improve public hygiene infrastructure and revive the National Sanitation Day initiative to foster civic responsibility.
It is time for authorities at all levels to demonstrate leadership and restore dignity to these vital spaces. The status quo is no longer acceptable.
Frederick Nortey (Traveler, Tour Guide, Blogger, Writer)
Accra
Editorial
Renovate Efua Sutherland Children’s Park
The Efua Sutherland Children’s Park at West Ridge in the Greater Accra Region, now in ruins, needs renovations.
The once-vibrant recreational centre for children, families, students, and tourists is now in a state of neglect, according to our reporter who visited the place.
Efua Sutherland, a well-known playwright and children’s author, is honoured by the Park, an important recreational and cultural area. Her work with children made her a notable figure in Ghanaian literature and education.
The Park used to be well-known and a popular destination for schoolchildren, particularly during vacation, but today visitors are met with outdated machinery and dilapidated infrastructure.
A vital green space in the city, the park provides a calm setting for families and children to unwind, play, and take part in cultural events. It is relevant because it fosters community life, offers recreational opportunities, hosts cultural events, and connects people to their Ghanaian heritage.
Additionally, both locals and visitors may easily access it due to its central location. Nothing seems to have been done to update the space or give it a facelift.
During The Spectator’s tour of the facility it was observed that the 14.83-acre playground’s equipment has rusted and turned into death traps instead of serving the intended purpose of entertaining guests.
Children are put off by the condition of the equipment because they are afraid of getting hurt. Inquiries at the location also showed that few people visit to inquire about the place and that its current condition makes it unappealing for event planners to host special events there. This calls into question the country’s dedication to maintaining such iconic and public areas.
There is an urgent need to address the terrible situation.
In order to ensure that events are hosted in the park, The Spectator urges the Ministry of Gender, Women and Social Protection (MCWSP), which is in charge of overseeing the facility, to collaborate with investors and other stakeholders to give it a facelift.
We think that if the Park is renovated, it will draw more event planners and regain its reputation as a communal hub that promotes cultural pride and a sense of belonging.
