Editorial
SONA well-delivered
Dear Editor,
President Akufo-Addo’s State of the Nation Address delivered on Wednesday, March 30, 2022 was, by far, one of the most succinct and ‘peaceful’ presentations I have witnessed in the last four years.
First, it was a departure from the ‘three-hour rhetoric’ which is typical of such national statements. The entire presentation lasted for about an hour and 20 minutes, allowing the parliamentarians and guests to quickly jump to other external businesses.
Parliamentarians on both sides of the House, maintained a good composure throughout the presentation in spite of simmering discontent of the Minority over the passage of the Electronic Transaction Levy (E-levy) Bill.
Some observers thought the ‘heckling-free’ atmosphere on the day was as a result of fruitful back-room conversation among the leadership of the House, prior to the President’s speech.
As factual or otherwise that it may be, I believe the President’s body language, choice of words and the victory of the Black Stars ahead of the address contributed to the order that prevailed on the floor of the August House.
As Speaker Alban Bagbin, expressed himself eloquently in his opening statement on the floor last Wednesday, citizens would continue to look up to the leadership and members of parliament, hence the need to lead by example.
This position cannot be overemphasised and I wish to encourage the House to maintain the same level of sanctity exhibited during the State of the Nation Address, as they take up future businesses on the floor in the interest of citizens and the nation.
Meanwhile, I would appeal to parliament to agree and accept a convention stipulating that future State of the Nation Addresses should not go beyond two hours, irrespective of what party is in power.
Fred Asamoah Antwi
Laterbiokorshie, Accra.
Dear Editor,
It is often said that a healthy nation is a wealthy nation. However, this saying becomes worrying when the health of citizens is threatened by the conditions under which the food they consume daily is sold.
In Ghana, the conditions under which food is sold is quite disturbing. Over the years, I have observed that the environments where food is prepared and sold are often unhygienic.
In many cases, containers holding food such as rice and waakye are left uncovered or not properly covered, exposing them to contamination.
While many Ghanaians paid little attention in the past to the conditions under which food was sold, the narrative seems to be changing in recent years.
I recall an incident during my days in Senior High School (S.H.S.) when my friends and I went out to buy food. At one location, some of us chose not to buy because we assumed the food would be expensive due to how neat the place looked.
Unfortunately, we ended up purchasing food from a different place that was somewhat unhygienic. We overlooked the poor conditions because we believed the quantity offered was better than at the cleaner location.
However, I am certain that my friends and I would not repeat such a mistake today, as we now understand the health implications of that decision.
While public education is important in addressing this issue, I believe it is time for regulatory and law enforcement agencies, such as the Food and Drug Authority (FDA), to crack the whip on food sellers and vendors who operate in unhygienic environments and conditions.
As citizens, we must also be mindful of where we buy our food to protect ourselves and our families from diseases and illnesses. We should choose ‘quality’ over ‘quantity’ and prioritize our health.
From Syram
Oyarifa
Dear Editor,
I write to express concern and call for improved security measures before and after every football match.
The recent robbery attack that led to the tragic death of a player, on their return from a Match day 29 game against Samartex, is both shocking and heartbreaking.
The incident, which reportedly occurred around 10:30 p.m., highlights the growing risks faced by players and team officials while traveling.
Football is meant to unite and entertain, not to expose lives to danger. It is therefore imperative that authorities, the Ghana Football Association, and security agencies put in place adequate protection for teams, especially during late-night travels.
I strongly urge all stakeholders to treat this matter with urgency to prevent such unfortunate incidents from recurring.
From Eugene Ampiaw
Accra
