Editorial
Sustainable development models needed
Dear Editor,
Social media platforms have recently been bombarded with hashtags and messages urging officials to find solutions to the country’s numerous challenges. However, development does not occur in a vacuum and cannot be attained by creating hashtags.
In today’s world, India is the destination for all things technological. This has been possible as the country had over the years made conscious effort to invest heavily in the sector.
In Ghana, Indians, considered experts in the field, work in IT departments of most enterprises and international corporations. Same could be said of Cuban doctors.
Bearing in mind our current challenges, I believe, it was time we took a cue from these partner countries and concentrate resources in the areas where we have the most potential or competitive advantage.
People may ask reasonable questions about this proposition by blaming our problems on leadership but I am convinced that our problems are more widespread.
It is high time we returned to our roots and began channelling our strengths in a way that benefits everyone equally while designing social and sustainable development model.
We can look back in history to the General Acheampong regime’s “Operation Feed Yourself” policy. We did not go out of our way to sell whatever we made; instead, we ate what we put our joint efforts into. For most citizens, this became a means of survival.
Authorities may do all possible to ensure the country’s progress, but we must not forget that we, as citizens, also have a responsibility to play. Let us all help fix the country, just as we all ascribe to one of the numerous patriotic tunes, “we are all involved in making our motherland.”
The sustainable development measures, when combined, will not assist to erase the country’s problems overnight, nor will they help to drastically reduce our unemployment rate, but they may help to alleviate them.
From Price Botchway, Adentan Accra
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
