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,
Walking along roads in some parts of the capital has become increasingly challenging.
While trading on pedestrian walkways remains a concern in certain areas, the parking of vehicles on road shoulders also poses a serious risk to pedestrians.
Often, pedestrians are forced to walk dangerously close to these parked vehicles or even step into the middle of the road to make way for oncoming traffic.
This situation is not only frustrating but also highly unsafe.
I recall an incident when I alighted at a lorry station and was walking home. A Tata bus was approaching, and due to vehicles parked on both sides of the road, I had nowhere to walk safely.
The situation became so dangerous that I had to quickly jump into a nearby shop to avoid being knocked down by the oncoming Tata bus.
That experience was frightening and could have easily resulted in an accident.
In my view, it is time for authorities in the road sector, such as the National Road Safety Authority and the Motor Traffic and Transport Department (MTTD) of the Ghana Police Service, to take urgent action to address this issue and prevent possible loss of life.
Strict enforcement measures, including towing improperly parked vehicles and imposing substantial fines, would serve as a deterrent to offenders.
From Ray
Adabraka
Dear Editor,
I wish to use this column of your respected newspaper to appeal to the Ministry of Education and the Ghana Education Service to consider bringing back the practice where students stayed home for some months after completing the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE).
Within that period where they stay home for some time and wait for their results, it afforded parents some time to prepare and save towards the next move in the academic life of their children.
In recent times, students are quickly admitted into Senior High School immediately after their examinations, leaving little time for parents and guardians to adequately prepare financially and emotionally for the next stage of their children’s education.
Many parents, therefore struggle to buy school items such as chop boxes, trunks, mattresses, uniforms and other necessities within the short period given.
This situation places pressure on families, especially those with low incomes.
Previously, the break after BECE allowed students to rest after years of academic work while parents and guardians made proper preparations for their wards.
It also gave students enough time to learn vocational skills, assist their families and mature before entering boarding school life.
Bringing back this period will greatly reduce stress on both parents and students and help ensure better preparation for Senior High School education.
And one other thing we have not taken notice of is that within that period, parents also prepare their children mentally and psychologically before they go to school. They are thought how to be independent.
So we see new secondary students displaying an appreciable level of maturity which is missing in this era where they go to senior high schools and still behave like primary school kids.
I hope the authorities will carefully consider this concern in the interest of students, parents and guardians across the country.
By Eugene Ampiaw,
Accra.
