Editorial
Motorway repair notice not timely enough
Dear Editor,
I was part of the hundreds of commuters who were held up in heavy traffic for hours on the Accra-Tema motorway on Monday, June 13, 2022.
Noticing the blockade which had started from the motorway roundabout, our driver tried to find shortcuts through Ashaiman before joining the motorway again around the Trassaco Valley area.
It was after we managed to find our way that we saw some contractors working on a bridge on the busy road. Some policemen were on standby but commuters coming from both sides had a tough time getting to their destinations on time.
The Ministry of Roads and Highways, in response to complaints from the public, issued a statement on Wednesday, June 15, 2022 to clarify what exactly was happening on the motorway and the alternative routes commuters could use.
I heard the spokesperson of the ministry explain that the repair work was to prevent loss of lives or injury from the possible collapse of the bridge which was in a terrible state.
While I commend the ministry for being proactive in fixing the bridge, I think the clarification last Wednesday was quite unusual as road users were always prompted before a major repair works were done.
I would like to plead with the ministry’s communication unit not to keep us in the dark when similar projects are to be executed. I hope the repairs would be completed on Friday, June 17. 2022, as scheduled to allow free flow of traffic.
Frank Tayman,
Weija.
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
