Editorial
Promotion of national unity is a must
National unity is very important in bringing everyone together for socioeconomic development.
Without unity, it will be difficult for the nation to move in a common direction. For this reason, all of us (children and adults) must work towards our common destiny with the sole aim of bringing everybody together in the interest of Ghana.
Ghanaians are one people with a common destiny. For this reason, we need to come together inspite of our differences and work towards a common goal.
In everything that we do, we should remember that without unity, success will be difficult to achieve. It is in line with this that all Ghanaians irrespective of their ethnic, political and other beliefs ought to bury their differences and forge ahead to achieve the ultimate national goal.
Attainment of the ultimate goal will not be easy but with dedication and a common purpose, this will be possible. Every obstacle or challenge can be overcome if only Ghanaians see themselves as one people with a common destiny.
All the 16 regions in Ghana must be conscientised to this realisation. There must be strong unity at the regional level and also at the national level. This will make the entire nation move forward just like other nations that have been able to move forward in unity to the admiration of their people.
Some time ago, there was East and West Germany. These were divided along ideological lines but today, the two have buried their differences and come together as one nation.
As a result of this unity, Germany today has emerged a strong nation. The Germans have put all their differences behind them and are moving forward for national development.
Ghana, in its supreme interest, must also learn from this so that all the regions will be united as one entity.
The time has now come for the people in this country to have a common voice regarding national development issues. Differences in opinion may exist but we should not see one another as enemies and engage in needless fighting using physical strength as happened in Parliament recently.
We need to unite as a people and fight our common challenges or problems such as poverty, squalor, illiteracy, lack of schools and accommodation, poor healthcare and malnutrition among others. This is the way forward so let us remain united and keep to the national development agenda.
Dear Editor,
I WRITE to condemn the circumstances under which an accident victim died recently after three major hospitals reportedly turned him away due to what has earned a place in our local parlance as ‘no bed syndrome.’
Reports suggested that this motor rider who got knocked by a vehicle was taken to three major hospitals – Police Hospital, Greater Accra Regional Hospital (Ridge Hospital), and the Korle-bu Teaching Hospital – but they all claimed they had no beds.
But one may ask, would there ever be beds?
Such is the treatment Ghanaians endure every now and then when one visits our hospitals, especially the public ones which are run with the taxpayers’ money. Many a time when one visits the hospitals, the sight of patients admitted and lying on benches, and some sitting on chairs while receiving care, is visible to all; making one wonder why this particular motor rider was not admitted at any of the facilities, looking at his condition.
This leads to the reason for this letter, which is to bring out a perceived apathy against these motor riders, the majority of whom are referred to as ‘Okada’ riders.
Due to their recklessness on the roads and the inconvenience caused to commuters, people always speak ill about them; drivers equally have no regard for them. Every user of public transport would attest to this. These riders are blamed for every offence, even when it is obvious drivers may be at fault sometimes.
Motor riders have become like orphans on the road; people care less about them, and when they are unfortunately knocked down, no one cares about them.
This is the mischief our authorities and agencies, including the police, must seek to cure to make the road safe for all users.
These are young folks that want to make a living for themselves, and with no skill or education, ‘Okada’ rides have become their source of livelihood. They need the protection accorded drivers and commuters as well.
In other countries, some facilities have been provided to make their work safer, but in Ghana, we lack them, leaving them with no alternative than to share the available space with the cars.
What has happened should serve as a wake-up call on our authorities to aim to take a second look at the ‘Okada’ menace. With the numbers increasing, there should be a way to regulate them because no government would have the guts to ban it totally.
Drivers should be made to accept the reality that they are sharing the roads with them, and therefore the need for patience and tolerance.
For some of our hospitals, I suggest the Ministry of Health conduct their own investigations to see what patients go through in accessing medicare, which is even not for free.
Thank you, Editor, for the space.
F. Morgan, Kokrobite
Dear Editor,
THE heartbreaking death of 29-year-old engineer Charles Amissah in a hit-and-run accident has exposed once again the failures in our health system.
Even more painful is the fact that his father had previously donated beds to some hospitals, yet when his son needed urgent care, he was moved from one facility to another because there were ‘no beds.’
This is not only tragic but unacceptable. How can a country lose its bright young citizens simply because hospitals cannot provide emergency treatment? The ‘no bed syndrome’ has become a national disgrace, and Charles’ death is a reminder that reforms cannot wait.
Our hospitals must be equipped to handle emergencies, and accountability must be enforced. If donations are made to improve facilities, then those facilities must serve the people when it matters most. Ghana cannot afford to keep losing lives to negligence and poor infrastructure.
Charles Amissah’s death should be the turning point. Let us honor his memory by fixing the system so that no family would suffer this kind of preventable loss again.
Princess Wonovi
Accra
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