News
The rains are here again! Let’s all put our hands on deck
The rains are here again with its attendant problems of floods resulting in loss of lives, destruction of properties and heavy traffic due to the bad nature of our roads,
A typical example is the June 3, 2015 flooding and fire disaster in Accra which claimed hundreds of lives and injured many, most of whom were taking shelter at a petrol filling station.
It has now become an annual phenomenon that in the rainy season the least incessant downpour results in flooding in most parts of Accra leading to loss of lives and the destruction of properties worth millions of cedis.
Last Tuesday’s downpour at dawn, which lasted for about four hours resulted in flooding in some parts of Accra with about six deaths and loss of properties. This was followed by another downpour on Wednesday evening which caused flooding and created heavy traffic jam on some major roads in Accra, especially the North Kaneshie Industrial Area route to the Kwame Nkrumah Circle.
The causes of these floods are evident. Despite the havoc of floods, people are oblivious and continue to litter the environment dumping refuse into drains. This has led to choked gutters.
Coupled with that, the least downpour exposes the bad nature of our roads and in such instances a journey of about 30 minutes could take several hours as drivers try to swerve the potholes to avoid damaging their vehicles. In some cases the potholes are so deep that the road becomes unmotorable.
There is the need to take action to avert any disaster. On June 6, as part of measures to educate the public to prevent flooding, the Minister of Works and Housing, Mr Samuel Atta Akyea, with support from Zoomlion Ghana Limited embarked on a sensitisation campaign to clear the drains in some parts of the Eastern, Greater Accra and the Ashanti regions. The initiative is commendable and this must be extended to other areas to sensitise more people as some are recalcitrant and litter indiscriminately thus posing danger to other residents.
The assemblies must be proactive to enforce bye-laws in order to punish those who are recalcitrant and dump refuse in open drains. This would deter others from treading that same path.
The Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) must get involved in the fight and constantly organise public education on the need for people to keep their environment clean to promote healthy living.
Barely a week ago on Friday, June 5, World Environment Day was observed and one of its objectives was “to encourage people to make their nearby surroundings safe, and clean to enjoy safer, cleaner and more prosperous future.”
The Spectator is, therefore, of the view that individuals must also be responsible enough to volunteer to clear the drains in their neighbourhood to control the annual flooding during the rainy season which claims lives and destroys property. The average citizenry, especially market women must be educated on sanitation practices and also sensitised to constantly practise good personal hygiene.
One disturbing issue is that people keep building on waterways but this must stop. The authorities should not allow such things to happen. Those who buy plots of land should be vigilant and make the necessary checks with the appropriate authorities before they commit themselves.
Those in low lying areas and water ways should take the necessary precautions and relocate to safety in times of a downpour.
As the Meteorological Department had announced that this year, the rains would be heavy and The Spectator hopes that authorities would continue with the dredging of storm drains and desilting of gutters to avert any disaster.
Since some people continue to litter, we suggest that refuse containers must be placed at vantage points in the cities and emptied regularly. Poor sanitation has resulted in most of these perennial floods and its attendant problems.
Remember, the rains are here again! Let’s all put our hands on deck to save lives.
Troubled and anxious citizens in Damongo of the Savannah Region have expressed concerns about the number of young people, believed to be under the age of 18, involved in ‘shisha’ smoking in pubs and drinking spots within the township.
Eyewitnesses say the minors were seen patronising nightlife venues, where Shisha smoking happen in the open.
The situation has sparked renewed public concern over the enforcement of child protection laws and regulations governing the operations of entertainment centres in the municipality and country as a whole.
An eyewitness, who spoke to The Spectator on conditions of anonymity for security reasons, noted that the situation was becoming increasingly common.
“This is not a one-off incident. It is becoming very common, but residents like us cannot openly report or speak about it because our lives will be at risk,” he said.
Under Ghanaian law, minors were prohibited from patronising Shisha.
Public health experts have consistently warned that shisha use exposes users to harmful substances that can negatively affect brain development, respiratory health, and overall well-being, particularly among young people.
The residents believe the alleged incidents point to broader challenges relating to youth supervision, substance abuse, and weak enforcement of existing regulations and have called on municipal authorities, security agencies, and regulatory bodies to intensify monitoring of pubs and entertainment centres to ensure compliance with the law.
In an effort to address the menace, Mr Salisu Be-Awurbi, the Savannah Regional Minister, has led public education campaigns, engaged security agencies, and supported enforcement actions to address the rising use of illicit substances in the region.
Wura Kelly Seidu Boresah I, the Chief of Damongo, has also called on all stakeholders including parents, community leaders, institutions, and young people to actively support efforts to curb drug abuse, warning that the rising consumption of hard drugs poses a serious health threat to the future of the youth in the Savannah Region.
He also cautioned individuals involved in the sale and distribution of illicit drugs to immediately desist from the practice, stressing that offenders will face arrest and prosecution in accordance with the law.
From Geoffrey Buta, Damongo, Savannah Region
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Dr Theresa Baffour, an advocate for ending violence and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of SAHM SAHW Foundation, has said that society plays a critical and pivotal role in breaking the cycle of domestic violence.
According to her, domestic violence is a major contributor of making women, who are mostly the victims, mentally derailed and unable to engage in economic activities.
She said this when the foundation called on the Ga Mantse, Nii Tackie Teiko Tsuru II, to solicit support for the initiative by the “Strong and Healthy Minds, Strong and Healthy Women” (SAHM SAHW) to combat domestic violence within the Ga State.
The visit was occasioned by the fact that domestic violence cases have become quite prevalent in the Ga communities and is retarding growth.
According to her, the canker was an impediment to national development because the victims were usually tortured and would have to go through series of therapies to return to the right state of mind.
Dr Baffour mentioned that Gender-Based Violence (GBV) places a mental toll on women, and was, therefore, important to break the cycle through comprehensive mental health support, crisis intervention and empowerment programmes in communities with high rates of GBV.
This intervention, she underscored, would help in empowering the denigrated victim of domestic violence to soundly heal, build and thrive.
Dr Baffour added that the initiative would provide holistic, trauma-informed mental health care and advocacy for young women affected by domestic violence.
According to her, the above statement would create safe spaces for healing and equipping them with entrepreneurial skills for renewed hope and empowered life.
The Ga Mantse pledged his support for the laudable initiative to combat domestic violence and also acknowledged the need to address it in the Ga State.
Further endorsement came from Justice Julia Naa-Yarley Adjei Amoah, Chief of Staff at the Office of the Ga Mantse, as she commended the team of SAHM SAHW Foundation for taking a bold step to end the canker in the Greater Accra.
She added that it was a step in the right direction to save vulnerable women from torture, stress and emotional abuse.
By Alfred Nii Arday Ankrah
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