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.
Dear Editor,
I AM writing to draw your attention to the inadequate street lights in some parts of Wawase, a situation that continues to pose serious concerns for residents.
Street lights play a crucial role in ensuring safety and security within a community. Unfortunately, several areas in Wawase are completely without functioning street lights.
This has made movement at night very difficult and dangerous, especially for workers, students, and traders who return home late.
The lack of proper lighting has also created an enabling environment for criminal activities such as theft and harassment. Residents often live in fear, and some are forced to limit their movements after dark. Additionally, poor visibility increases the risk of road accidents, putting both pedestrians and drivers at risk.
It is concerning that despite the growing population and development in Wawase, this basic infrastructure issue remains unresolved.
I would like to appeal to the relevant authorities, including the local assembly and electricity providers, to urgently address this problem by installing new street lights and repairing faulty ones.
Ensuring adequate street lights will not only improve security but also enhance the overall quality of life for residents in the area.
Gwen Mensah, Agona Swedru
Dear Editor,
FOR some time now, I have been deeply concerned about the state of the Kaneshie footbridge, which has over the years developed cracks, exposing some rusted metal parts and raising safety concerns.
It is, therefore, welcome news for daily users of the facility like myself that a team from the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA), led by the Metropolitan Chief Executive (MCE), visited the facility and announced a temporary closure to allow for maintenance work to be carried out.
While I wish to commend the Assembly for the move, I believe it has been long overdue.
I often find it difficult to understand why, as a country, we sit, wait, and watch for preventable incidents or tragedies to happen before we react. I say this because the issue of the bad state of the Kaneshie footbridge has been one that has been re-echoed by many who use it on a daily basis.
I believe that as the Assembly looks to start the maintenance works on the footbridge, it is also important for it and other Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies (MMDAs) to pay attention to other footbridges across the country that are in a similar state.
The time has come for Ghana, as a country, to be more proactive than reactive.
I will also urge the assemblies to deploy their respective teams to always check on footbridges across the country to ensure that they are in good shape to avoid any tragedy that could lead to the loss of human lives.
From Fafa, Kaneshie
