Editorial
Regulate charges at public restrooms
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Dear Editor,
Public restrooms play an important role in everyday life, public health, and the functioning of cities. Most importantly, a clean public restroom such a public toilet facility is crucial in preventing the spread of diseases.
In Ghana, access to public restrooms is not a problem, as toilet and urinal facilities could be found at various places, including market centres, lorry stations, and other institutions. Most of these facilities are either managed by the government through the local government agencies or by private operators.
While access to these facilities have never been a challenge, there is one major problem that users of these facilities have raised over the years, and this has to do with the amount they charge patrons of these facilities.
Recently, at the Madina lorry station, I observed an argument between a lady and a manager of a public restroom over the amount she was asked to pay for using the facility.
According to the lady, she had to pay GH₵10 for using the restroom, an amount she found to be too expensive. However, she had no option than to pay and use the facility.
Also, a few of my friends have complained or either observed similar encounters at different places. Though this may sound funny, I believe it is something that as a country, we need to look at.
Personally, I do not understand why one must pay so much for using a public restroom.
Again, users of such facilities sometimes complain that the state of some of these public restrooms was not the best, despite the huge amounts charged by the managers.
Some of these facilities are unhygienic.
I wish to use this platform to appeal to the agencies in charge to investigate some of these instances and find a way to regulate the charges.
Nii Ayi,
Madina
Dear Editor,
I want to use this platform to create awareness on the growing safety challenge at some of our beaches, particularly the lack of adequate safety measures to prevent accidents.
Beaches are important recreational spaces that also contribute significantly to Ghana’s tourism industry. However, many beaches lack trained lifeguards, emergency equipment and proper supervision.
During weekends, holidays and sometimes weekdays, families visit these beaches to have fun and some, for relaxing, yet the necessary safety measures are often inadequate.
The situation becomes even more worrying when children and inexperienced swimmers enter the water without proper guidance; it can quickly turn a day meant for enjoyment into a tragedy for families.
I urge beach operators and local authorities to strengthen safety measures at our beaches, make trained lifeguards available at busy beaches, warning signs clearly displayed and emergency responses system established.
Public education is equally important as well. Visitors must be encouraged to obey safety instructions, avoid dangerous places and remain vigilant especially when children are around.
Ghana has beautiful beaches with enormous potentials that attract both local and international tourists, but we cannot promote beach tourism effectively whiles neglecting the safety of the people who visit these places.
I hope the authorities will treat beach safety as a national priority before it cause any tragedy.
From Elvis Amoako
Teshie-Nungua.
Dear Editor,
In Ghana, it appears that the moment a prominent politician is arrested or convicted, we fail to ask of the person’s offence but rather think of the person’s political affiliation.
Taking the recent 20-year imprisonment handed to New Patriotic Party (NPP) Ashanti regional chairman, Bernard Antwi-Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi has once again exposed this troubling culture.
An Accra high court convicted him on illegal-mining related charges and sentenced him to 20 years in prison. The NPP has since announced its intention to appeal the conviction.
What concerns me is not whether one belongs to the NPP or the NDC, what concern me is our growing tendency to attach a political identity to every arrest, investigation or court judgment. If an NPP member is arrested, some immediately say the NDC government is targeting the opposition. If an NDC member faces legal trouble the same argument will easily be reversed when political circumstances change.
We must ask ourselves; Are we defending justice or are we simply depending on our political colours? Political affiliation should never determine whether we believe a person deserves investigation, prosecution or a fair trial. If someone is accused of wrongdoing the proper institution must investigate, the court must determine guilt and the accused must have the right to challenge the decision through legal process.
Ghana cannot build a strong democracy if every criminal investigation becomes a political battle. Let us learn to separate politics from justice, a wrongdoing does not become right because the accused belong to your party and an accusation does not become true simply because the person belong to the opposing party.
Our loyalty should first be Ghana, the rule of the law and justice not to political colors.
From Desmond Yaw Frimpong
Pentecost University
