Editorial
Making precious lives safe on our roads
It is becoming clear that despite the numerous appeals to motorists in the country, road crashes and deaths continue to be on the rise, making it unsafe for road users whether as pedestrians or motorists.
It has been pointed out time and again that most of the causes of road accidents are as a result of human errors that could be prevented if motorists show a little more care.
Many a time, motorists get involved in accidents because of speeding, non- observance of traffic rules and being in a hurry to get to their destination in the shortest possible time. This together with impatience on the part of many drivers leads to road accidents.
Some road accidents also occur as a result of drunkenness. Again, there are times drivers have been found not to be conversant with the road signs. All these are contributory factors that should be dealt with.
As much as possible, motorists must be well educated on all these issues so that accidents can be reduced to the barest minimum instead of seeing them increasing year-in year-out.
This is the only way to make precious lives safe on our roads. According to data compiled by Motor Traffic and Transport Department (MTTD) of the Ghana Police Service, it has been revealed that the number of commuters killed in road traffic between January and June this year has risen to 1,454. This has resulted in 27.54 per cent increase in death compared with the number of people killed in the first six months of 2020.
Similarly, 423 pedestrians have also been killed within the same period, indicating that pedestrians killed rose from 305 in 2020 to 423 in the first six months of this year.
All these point to the fact that lives on our roads are not safe. It is, therefore, incumbent on the National Road Safety Authority (NRSA) to sit up and be stricter on the drivers on the roads.
Other law enforcement bodies such as the MTTD of the Ghana Police should also be very strict on the application of the road traffic regulations.
Again, while general education on road crashes is important and should be encouraged, our law courts must impose heavy punishments on those who flout traffic regulations.
The Spectator believes that, if these measures are strictly implemented they can go a long way to ensure that the roads are made safe for motorists, pedestrians and other users. The end result will be drastic reduction of injuries and fatalities on our roads.
Lives lost cannot be brought back just as harm caused by way of injuries cannot also be restored to its original form.
The call is, therefore, for everyone to play his/her part to make our roads safer than ever before.
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
