Editorial
Need to reduce funeral expenses
Funerals are usually organised to honour the dead because humans are considered special creations of God.
It is, however, becoming worrying that high expenses are usually incurred by families during the organisation of funerals for loved ones.
There is nothing wrong with incurring some costs in connection with funerals but in a situation where millions and millions of Ghana Cedis, sometimes dollars, are spent on the dead, it becomes difficult, sometimes, to understand them.
Today, there is hardly any difference between a party organised for friends and funeral organised for lost ones.
This is because in both instances, sumptuous meals are prepared for those who attend such events, whether party or funeral.
Much money can be saved on funeral and used to cater for children who need to be well educated to become useful, productive members of society.
There have been cases, countless of them, where new cloths are cut and sewn to mark such events. This explains why upon the death of certain people, families that do not have much money begin to weep and weep, realising that getting money for funerals will be difficult to come by.
Some members or families also go and borrow huge sums of money just to organise funerals after which they are mercilessly tackled for the repayment of the loan taken.
All these are lifestyles that are needless and should, therefore, be avoided if we are to live in peace with one another.
It is, therefore, important to minimise expenses on funerals and rather save money for the living. This is what we need to make society a joyous one.
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
