Editorial
Need to control family size
National development greatly depends on the size of population we have in the country. If the rate of population growth is higher than economic development, the standard of living is likely to fall.
On the other hand, if economic development rises higher than population growth, standard of living will improve.
This explains why in every country including Ghana, efforts must be made to ensure that population is brought under acceptable control so that families and government can provide adequately for the people they have to cater for.
Day in day out we yearn for schools, good drinking water, good roads, hospitals and so on.
It is good to ensure that these items are provided adequately for the people. Therefore, if the supply of these items are inadequate, many of our people will not be happy and will have to live miserably in society.
Every family is free to produce the number of people it can cater for. However, it is not a particular family that will cater for all the needs of its members. For example, every family cannot build its own school, hospitals, roads, etc for all the members born into it. What happens is that individuals in society tend to depend on the state for their respective socioeconomic development.
Thus, individuals with small family members will have to be competing with those who have very large family members over facilities like roads, water, healthcare and so on. It is for this reason that people must understand issues relating to national population policies. The resources available in a state are meant for everyone, so if each individual gives birth to a small number of people, the country will be able to make lives better by bringing more socioeconomic facilities for people to enjoy.
Many poor people with very little or no income live in rickety structures which they consider as houses. Their standard of living in these areas is very poor but in contrast we have some very rich people who live in two or three bedroom houses with family sizes of about three or four people.
These people tend to enjoy better lives because they have access to good water, electricity, good roads and many other facilities which large families may not have. It is in the light of all these reasons that The Spectator may like to appeal to all Ghanaians to come up with family members they can adequately cater for. If this is done, the nation can easily develop more facilities for its people so that individuals and family members can enjoy higher standard of living.
It is expected that every Ghanaian will adhere to this piece of advice, so that life can be made better for each and everyone of us. We should note that the social amenities needed to make life better for each of us greatly depend on our own selves so we need to control population in our own way so that things can be made better for us all.
This way, life can be made more meaningful as expected.
Dear Editor,
I have witnessed a very dangerous practice by some food vendors who use stones and other heavy objects as weights on leaking gas cylinders.
This is very disturbing. Despite repeated warnings from the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS), many vendors continue to ignore the risks associated with such practices without considering the danger they pose to people nearby in the event of an explosion.
Many food vendors operate close to fuel filling stations, increasing the possibility of a major disaster if leaking gas ignites during heavy rainfall.
Ghana cannot afford another tragedy like the June 3 disaster, when torrential rains and a massive explosion at the GOIL fuel station near the Kwame Nkrumah Interchange claimed more than 150 lives.
It is unfortunate that some vendors still use unsafe and damaged gas cylinders instead of replacing them. Covering leaking cylinders with stones is not a solution and only exposes lives and property to danger.
On one occasion, I tried to educate a food vendor around my area who had used a stone to cover her gas cylinder on the danger of her action but ended up getting the insult of my life.
I would therefore like to appeal to all relevant stakeholders, especially the GNFS and other security agencies, to intensify public education and enforce safety regulations.
Authorities should ensure that vendors who engage in such dangerous practices stop immediately. Faulty gas cylinders should be seized, and users compelled to replace them with safer ones.
Taking these preventive measures will help protect lives and property and prevent the country from experiencing another avoidable tragedy similar to the June 3 disaster.
Timothy,
Abelenkpe
Dear Sir,
I write to express concerns about the flood situation in the capital anytime it rains.
This is an issue that has been thoroughly discussed at various platforms even before the start of the rains, so one expected that we can see some readiness for the season.
However, the kind of floods we are experiencing now are not ones that authorities must sit unconcerned about; there must be action right away.
Places like Adjirigano, Kaneshie, Alajo, Avenor, parts of Kasoa have all seen flood waters risen to unprecedented levels.
Clearly, we have a big problem at hand. It’s either our drains are choked or have become too small. Something must be done about this to avert a much bigger problem.
Christine Amoh,
Odorkor
