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‘Sanity’ in commercial vehicles must continue
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Dear Editor,
I have never felt very comfortable sitting in commercial vehicles, like I do these days.
Since the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic, transport owners across the country were compelled to reduce the number of passengers on board their vehicles.
Drivers said they were losing revenue by complying with the new directive but passengers on the other hand seem to be reaping the benefit.
We have been aware over the years that most commercial vehicles that ply our roads were not originally designed to carry passengers. But somehow, vehicle owners had managed to convert them into carriers.
The inconvenience passengers endure in most of the rickety commercial vehicles cannot be understated. However, the past three months has provided enough evidence that there could be some sanity in commercial vehicle operations with regards to creating space and comfort.
‘Trotros’, especially those we call ‘207 Benz’ buses should not continue to carry four passengers on one row when they can actually pick three, and still make profit.
There is no point in condoning crowding in commercial “trotro” when we can indeed reduce the numbers, and control the spread of any other pandemic in future.
I suggest the Ministry of Transport, the Ghana Private Road Transport Union, and other associations of public transport owners would continue to maintain this ‘new order’ even after we are able to defeat COVID-19.
The time to act is now. Let us ride on the back of the novel coronavirus to introduce the much needed reforms in our commercial transport sector.
Martin Adu Akorsah
Asutuare
Nsakina community needs help
Dear Editor,
I write on behalf of residents of Nsakina, in the Amasaman Municipality of the Greater Accra Region.
Though, pipe-borne water was introduced in the community about five years ago, some residents still complain that they cannot afford to settle high water bills they recieve regularly.
Some residents operate convenience shops and drinking bars. Others are head porters, food vendors. The rest are unemployed.
Some of them say they spend about GH¢25.00 daily to access clean water. For this reason, they resort to stagnant water and water from broken pipes as their primary source for water.
They admit that these sources of water are not safe but they are compelled to use it due to their status.
Though some reliefs were granted recently, residents want the government to further subsidise charges on water in the area to enable households afford it.
Residents believe the construction of a community borehole will enable them access clean water more conveniently. Apart from water, Nsakina has poor feeder roads while the community clinic is losing its aesthetics.
They want government, non-governmental organisations and philanthropists to move in and alleviate their plight.
Selibel Fiawoo
Ghana Institute of Journalism
Construction of a major underground stormwater drain along the Dr. Busia Highway within the Kaneshie enclave will commence on September 7, 2026.
The Project Coordinator for the Greater Accra Resilient and Integrated Development (GARID) Project, Dr. Kwadwo Ohene Sarfo, announced this at a special media briefing on Wednesday.
According to him, the works will involve the construction of a double-cell underground rectangular drain measuring approximately 10 metres wide and 1.95 kilometres long, stretching from Pamprom Junction to First Light Junction.
The new drain will replace the existing two 1.2-metre diameter pipes, which are inadequate to carry the volume of stormwater in the area.
Dr. Sarfo said the drain will connect at one end to the recently completed section within the Accra Academy campus and at the other end to the existing drain at Pamprom Junction.
He said the construction is expected to run from September 2026 to October 2027.
The project forms part of government’s broader flood prevention and mitigation programme aimed at addressing perennial flooding in Accra.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
The former Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, has withdrawn from the party’s National Chairmanship race.
In a statement issued yesterday, Chairman Wontumi who is currently serving a 20-year jail term said his decision was driven by his love for the party and his unwillingness to let his personal circumstances distract the NPP from its rebuilding efforts.
“There are moments in the life of a man when the heart wants to continue, but duty demands sacrifice. Moments when one must quietly set aside personal ambition, not because the dream has died, but because the family he loves must not be made to carry his burden. Today, I find myself at such a painful moment,” he wrote.
He disclosed that after many nights of prayer, sober reflection and consultations with his family, legal team, party elders, campaign team and trusted supporters, he concluded that his present situation must not become an additional burden on the NPP.
“This is not the decision my heart desired, but sometimes, true love requires us to release what we deeply want in order to protect what we love even more,” he added.
Recounting his years of service, Chairman Wontumi said he had served the party with everything within him, walking through heat and rain, travelling to remote communities and standing with the grassroots in both victory and defeat.
“For many years, I have served the NPP with everything within me… The NPP is not merely a political party to me. It is my family. It is my home. It is a cause to which I have dedicated a significant part of my life,” he stated.
He explained that the party, already carrying the pain of electoral defeat and the huge responsibility of preparing for the future, should not be made to carry his personal weight.
“That is why I cannot allow my present situation or personal ambition to distract the party from the difficult work of rebuilding. I cannot ask the party to carry my weight when it is already carrying the pain of defeat and the enormous responsibility of preparing for the battle ahead. I would rather carry this pain quietly than allow the party I love to suffer because of me,” he said.
He further sympathized with his supporters across the 16 regions, acknowledging that the decision would be painful for many who had sacrificed for his campaign.
“To my teeming supporters across all sixteen regions, I know this message will hurt. I know many of you will read it with tears in your eyes because I understand the sacrifices you have made for this journey,” he said.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
