Editorial
SIM, Ghana Card registration – Smooth rough edges
Dear Editor,
The procedure requiring us to use the Ghana Card to re-register our SIM cards is becoming a bit cumbersome. At dawn people leave the comfort of their homes and queue at NHIS offices as well as the premises of telecom service providers to have their details captured.
The young and old are not left out of this scramble which I believe could be avoided. While at it, some of them fail to observe the COVID 19 safety protocols.
Those who wear nose masks lower them down their chins and some are not bothered at all about safety measures. It is not even possible to detect whether or not persons in the queue have been vaccinated. I believe these gatherings could be potential COVID-19 hotspots, considering the surge of the new variant, Omicron.
I am convinced the short grace period given for the SIM registration could be accounting for any‘stampede.’ I thought subscribers could complete the registration process on their phones but I am told we still have to go to the offices of our telecom service providers to finalise the process.
People who have subscribed to more than one telecom service provider are, therefore, compelled to move from one customer service location centre to the other to complete the process.
I believe this and other inconveniences of the SIM re-registration could have been avoided if subscribers were allowed to seamlessly key in details on their mobile phones and do not have to show up at any office to complete the process.
As the March deadline approaches, it would be appropriate to provide workable alternatives to subscribers as efforts are made to make the acquisition of the Ghana Card less hectic.
The object of these two exercises is, indeed, plausible but we need to smooth the rough edges.
From Priscilla Efriyie Ankapong, Cape Coast.
Basic education is widely considered a fundamental human right for all children, regardless of their community, age, or background. Providing good educational infrastructure is critical, as it directly influences educational quality, academic performance, and overall community development. The physical environment of schools shapes the future of children, who are the leaders of tomorrow.
However, the Nanvili Community School in the Mion district of the Northern Region faces severe infrastructural challenges, negatively affecting teaching and learning. The school serves five surrounding communities, with a total of 58 pupils. Observations during a visit revealed that the classrooms have deteriorated so badly that many children have stopped attending classes.
The poor condition of classrooms and lack of desks has made teaching and learning extremely difficult. More concerning is that the three gate-free classrooms are filled with goat and sheep droppings, creating a health hazard for pupils. During the rainy season, teachers and students are often cut off from the school due to bad roads and flooding, leading to weeks of suspended teaching activities, which further affects academic performance.
The Assemblyman for the area, Mr. Dawuni Mutawakil, expressed worry that pupils from Nanvili are expected to compete with their counterparts in urban areas who have access to better facilities. He emphasized the urgent need to provide desks and adequate classroom space to separate the merged classes.
The Chief of Nanvili, Abu Kassim, also appealed to the government and non-governmental organizations to assist the community. He noted that the current state of the school discourages children from nearby communities from attending, further highlighting the need for urgent intervention.
The Spectator joins local leaders in calling for immediate action to improve infrastructure and provide furniture, ensuring quality education for children in the Nanvili community.
By Geoffrey Buta, Nanvili, Northern Region
Spectator
Join our WhatsApp Channel now!
https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VbBElzjInlqHhl1aTU27
Dear Editor,
As December fast approaches and Christmas shopping begins, I wish to draw the attention of the Municipal and District Assemblies to the urgent need for measures that ensure orderliness in public spaces.
A few months after decongestion exercises were carried out in various municipalities, it appears that drivers and hawkers who were moved to designated areas are gradually returning. As a regular visitor to Accra Central and Nkrumah Circle, I have observed that hawkers are slowly filling pavements that had been cleared.
During the decongestion period, we hoped that hawkers would remain off the pavements entirely to allow commuters to move freely. However, while boundaries were marked with red paint, the hawkers are gradually encroaching beyond these limits, significantly narrowing the space left for pedestrians.
What is particularly concerning is that this is happening in full view of authorities, whose officers patrol the area daily. With the Christmas season approaching, these pavements will become even more congested as hawkers attempt to occupy every available space.
This is the time for Municipal and District Assemblies to assert their presence and enforce rules to prevent the situation from worsening. A stitch in time saves nine, and proactive measures now will prevent larger problems later.
By Regina Amoh, Accra
Spectator
Join our WhatsApp Channel now!
https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VbBElzjInlqHhl1aTU27
