Editorial
Queen Elizabeth’s funeral: Anything to learn?
● Millions paid their last respect to the Queen
Dear Editor,
Special attention was on the United Kingdom in the last two weeks, following the passing of the nation’s longest-reigning monarch, the adorable Queen Elizabeth II.
She was laid to rest on the evening of Monday, September 19, 2022, after a well-coordinated state funeral, attended by world leaders and viewed by millions across the world.
The depth of affection for the Queen was evident in the uncountable number of people who wrote tributes, took flowers and joined queues to pay their last respect. From start to finish, the funeral portrayed the personality, leadership, and the warm character of Her Majesty.
Monitoring some of the proceedings from September 8, 2022, when the Queen’s death was announced, up until she made her final journey home, I cannot help but express my admiration and highlight few observations made during the period in this letter.
First, I commend the local and international media for the extensive coverage provided. Clearly, such a historic moment reinforced the crucial role of the media in educating and providing up to the minute information to citizens.
I must admit that the reportage from various media outlets, including the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) was an eye-opener as they delved into the minutest and intriguing details of the British monarchy. The analysis and discussions were insightful and I continue to learn more and look forward to the reign of King Charles III.
Ahead of the main event, I noticed the proclamation of the new King and the planning of the funeral was done in less than two weeks. All arrangements took a natural course and it did not appear as if people were taken by surprise.
The organisation of the funeral, I later learnt, was seamless because the ceremony and all other events had been rehearsed by the military ahead of time.
With over 2,000 guests at the funeral, security was tight as over 4,000 security personnel were deployed on the day. This implies there was a ratio of two security officials to one guest. Isn’t that worth commending?
When members of the public started paying their last respect to the Queen, queue management experts were able to accurately predict and warn other people from joining the long queue, indicating ‘latecomers’ may not be able to make it to Westminster Hall within the allotted time. This is another proof of the many things that were factored into the planning of the funeral.
The ceremony was generally incident-free and everything returned to normal after the short period of national mourning.
Before I conclude my thoughts, I again observed that there was no special ‘funeral cloth’ for the Queen’s funeral; mourners were in any decent black outfit. Elsewhere, an ‘Abusuapanyin’ would have ‘selected’ a funeral cloth and spent hard-earned currency procuring same just because it is a ‘royal funeral.’
I must say we are good at planning and organising state funerals and other kinds of funeral our own way but there is certainly something to learn from the Queen’s funeral. We can pay the needed respect to the departed without wasting time and resources.
Frank Adutwum,
Kpong, Eastern Region.
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
