News
Removing earwax with cotton buds dangerous
Ms Charlotte Agyakwa, the Deputy Director of Nursing Services, (DDNS) at the Ear, Nose, and Throat (E.N.T), Unit at the Shai Osu Doku Hospital, Dodowa, in the Greater Accra Region, has warned that it was dangerous to use twirling cotton-tipped swabs to remove earwax.
She has advised that people should not introduce any foreign material into the ears whenever they itched, or felt discomfort.
Speaking in an interview with The Spectator recently at Dodowa, she said the wax in the ear had a natural mechanism which got rid of itself at the appropriate time, hence there was no need to use any foreign material to remove it.
The DDNS explained that earwax was a natural moisturiser which prevented the skin inside the ear from becoming too dry, prevented dust, bacteria and other infectious organisms from reaching the eardrum.
Ms Agyakwa, however, explained that there were some people who produced more earwax than others, a situation which caused the ear to block early, and required that the patient should be examined at the hospital and the necessary assistance provided.
She explained that those who had the penchant to remove the wax from the ear, rather made it dry to compound their problem as they pushed the wax further into the ear.
The DDNS, further said those who used twirling cotton-tipped swabs to remove wax in the ear, could accidentally damage the eardrum and further worsened their problem.
She has, therefore, advised people to report at the hospital whenever they were confronted with any problem with the ear.
The Korle Klottey Municipal Assembly (KOKMA) has demolished a dilapidated building at Osu that has remained in a deteriorated state for nearly 70 years.
The demolition of the structure followed several engagements between the Assembly, the police and the occupants of the property to ensure the exercise was carried out safely.
The action comes days after a similar building collapsed at Avenor, killing one person and leaving others injured, raising concerns about the safety of ageing structures across the capital.
The demolition, which took place on Monday, June 8, 2026, was carried out peacefully without any confrontation from residents or occupants of the area.
Speaking to the media, the Municipal Chief Executive for the Korle Klottey Municipal Assembly, Alfred Allotey-Gaisie, said the assembly had repeatedly warned occupants of the building to vacate the premises due to the danger it posed.
He explained that the assembly had earlier forced the occupants to move out to enable officials to carry out the demolition safely.
He noted that there was a slight delay in the exercise because power had to be disconnected by the Electricity Company of Ghana, while telecommunications operators were also engaged to protect fibre cables in the area.
Mr. Allotey-Gaisie said no casualties had been recorded, adding that nearby buildings were also evacuated as a precautionary measure.
He stated that the structure was believed to be more than 70 years old and had deteriorated over time, making it unsafe for continued occupation.
He further explained that the assembly’s building permit and inspection systems were intended to ensure proper supervision of construction projects and prevent such situations in the future.
According to him, any new development on the site would be expected to meet current building standards.
Meanwhile, one of the owners of the demolished property, Walter Hammond, explained that the family had already planned to pull down the building because of its age and poor condition before the assembly intervened.
He said although the family did not directly invite the assembly to undertake the demolition, officials had earlier marked the building and recommended its removal.
He described the assembly’s intervention as a step in the right direction and disclosed that all family members supported the exercise.
Mr. Hammond advised owners of weak and ageing structures to demolish them before assemblies are compelled to intervene, warning that delays could lead to legal disputes and other complications.
He added that following the demolition, the family intended to either lease or sell the property to interested investors.
Korle Klottey Municipal Assembly Engineer, Davor Wonder, mentioned that the assembly had identified about three weak structures within the municipality for possible demolition.
He explained that buildings are not demolished solely based on their appearance, stressing that structural integrity assessments must first be conducted to determine whether a structure is unsafe.
Mr. Wonder said the assembly follows due process before carrying out demolitions to avoid disputes and ensure decisions are based on professional assessments.
On preparations for the rainy season, he revealed that the assembly had intensified the desilting of drains across parts of the municipality to improve the flow of stormwater and reduce flooding.
A resident in the area revealed that he was pleased with the demolition because the building posed a serious threat to lives and property.
The resident noted that the structure was located at a busy junction used by motorists and pedestrians, adding that its poor condition was obvious and that its demolition would help prevent a possible tragedy.
By: Jacob Aggrey
Personnel from the Industrial Area Fire Station successfully responded to two separate fire incidents in Accra over the weekend, preventing further damage and ensuring no loss of life.
The first incident occurred at the North Gate of Accra Academy in Bubiashie, where a Lexus RX350 caught fire late on Saturday night.
Firefighters quickly brought the blaze under control and extinguished it.
While the vehicle’s engine compartment, roof, and dashboard were completely destroyed, the back seat and tyres were salvaged. No injuries were reported, and investigations into the cause are ongoing.
In a separate incident at Dansoman Last Stop on Sunday, firefighters responded to a fire involving a tailoring shop housed in a metal container.
Although the fire had gone out before their arrival, three sewing machines, fabrics, tables, and chairs were destroyed. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
The Ghana National Fire Service has urged the public to regularly inspect electrical installations and observe fire safety precautions to prevent similar incidents.
