Editorial
Regulate charges at public restrooms
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 wish to use this esteemed platform to urge the traditional councils of Osu and La to call for independent investigation into the recent demolition exercise at Kaajaano.
The exercise rendered hundreds homeless.
Information about the reason for the demolition has been scanty with those desiring to know feeding heavily on social media posts.
One particular name –Jato, has been associated with it but under whose instruction the exercise was carried is also not known.
Sadly, instead of getting to know who ordered the demolition and for what reasons, traditional authorities of Osu and La have been embroiled in a tug-of-war over ownership of the said land.
This is premature. At this moment, they should call for investigation into the exercise to know the people behind it.
When that is done, then discussions about the owners of the site can begin. That would end the posture of the two neighbouring town which has the potential to turn into something else.
Ataa Osa Mensah,
Osu
Dear Editor,
I wish to use your respected platform to draw the attention of the Bank of Ghana (BoG) to the behaviour of traders and some drivers about the use of lower denomination coins, specifically the 20 and 10 pesewas.
About two weeks ago, I read in your sister newspaper, The Ghanaian Times about this problem and the caution that followed from the BoG and some economic analysts.
The warning they gave was that the continuous rejection of the notes could create pricing problems which can eventually affect inflation.
I thought that would put to bed that practice or refusal to accept the coins when given out as change or use to pay for particular service.
Unfortunately, the problem still persist among traders, drivers, customers and passengers alike. Only last week, there was as altercation in the Accra Central area where a woman refused to accept five 20 pesewas note totaling one cedi.
As the argument continued, the trader decided not to sell to the customer again after by-standers explained to her that it was still a legal tender and those that refused it could become offenders.
This is an issue the BoG and other regulatory agencies must go and explain to the people and let them know that it is unlawful not to accept a currency that is still in use.
It nothing was done, it could create a much more serious problems.
Mary Osei Badu,
Swedru
