Editorial
Turkey earthquake, emergency response
Dear Editor,
I am not happy writing this letter as I continue to see disturbing images from the disaster in Turkey on television, newspapers and social media.
Last night, I saw a short clip of how a baby was miraculously saved after spending nearly six days under rubble. The baby’s immediate family was, however, nowhere to be found at the time of the report. Rescue teams in Turkey are reported to be doing a yeoman’s job in spite of limited resources.
I express my condolences to the people of Turkey but remain hopeful that we would receive good news sometime soon about the search for our own Christian Atsu. The conflicting reports about his whereabouts is not what we expect at this time. And those peddling false news must be guided.
Meanwhile, the happenings in Turkey sparked my thoughts about our country’s emergency response system. I have been thinking aloud whether or not there are robust structures, personnel and logistics to quickly respond to disasters of any kind in Ghana, should the unfortunate happen.
I know the security agencies and the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO), for instance, would always be on top of their game as they did during the June 3 flood and fire disaster in Accra.
But beyond these institutions, have we or are we putting in place adequate measures and developing the right competencies and rapid response mechanisms for the future?
No one is predicting doom but events across the world should always provide a clue on how to handle our situation. I strongly believe we must start or continue doing the needful so we are never caught off guard.
Mavis Konadu Tetteh,
Mamprobi-Accra.
Editorial
Unhygienic food selling environment: A serious concern that must be addressed

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
Editorial
Provide adequate protection for footballers
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
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