Editorial
Urgent call to address sanitation, environmental neglect at Legon City Campus, Makola-Tudu Junction
Dear Editor
Ghana is grappling with mounting sanitation and environmental neglect and as a concerned citizen and advocate for a cleaner, safer and more presentable academic environment, I feel compelled to highlight disturbing issues I encountered during a recent visit to the enclave of Workers College, currently operating as Legon City Campus of the University of Ghana as well as Accra Central, specifically the stretch from Makola towards Tudu, just after the Ghana National Fire Service office.
At the Legon City Campus, formerly known as Workers College, widespread overgrowth of weeds along campus walls and walkways poses both safety and structural risks.
The unchecked vegetation is encroaching on pedestrian pathways and threatening the stability of surrounding walls.
Behind the campus, near the road to Adabraka and Liberia Road, garbage and overgrown weeds have turned the area into an eyesore, undermining the prestige of one of Ghana’s premier universities.
The environmental degradation reflects poorly on the institution’s leadership and jeopardizes student and community health.
I would like to urge the University of Ghana Estate Department to act immediately, clearing the weeds, reinforcing structural elements, cleaning the garbage-strewn areas, and establishing a consistent maintenance schedule.
This will ensure safety, institutional pride and civic responsibility.
In Accra Central, a similar crisis is festering. A growing heap of refuse near the Makola-Tudu Junction, just past the Ghana National Fire Service office has overwhelmed pedestrian walkways and spilled into vehicular lanes.
This not only causes human and traffic congestion but also creates a hazardous public health situation in one of the city’s busiest commercial zones.
As a tour guide and advocate for Ghana’s tourism industry, this development has damaging impact on the country’s image.
Tourists encountering filth in the capital’s core are left with a negative impression, counteracting national efforts to boost tourism.
I therefore call on the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA), Osu Klottey Municipal Assembly, and sanitation agencies to enforce waste management laws, improve public hygiene infrastructure and revive the National Sanitation Day initiative to foster civic responsibility.
It is time for authorities at all levels to demonstrate leadership and restore dignity to these vital spaces. The status quo is no longer acceptable.
Frederick Nortey (Traveler, Tour Guide, Blogger, Writer)
Accra
Dear Editor,
I’m writing to bring attention to a disturbing situation in Mempeasem, a suburb of East Legon in the Ayawaso West municipality of Accra.
A recent field study by some of my colleagues and I undertaking a “Disaster risk science” course from the University of Ghana’s Geography and Resource Development department uncovered several hazards in the community that could turn into full-blown disasters if not addressed.
The community faces risks like choked gutters causing floods, closely packed wooden houses that could fuel massive fires, open waste dumps breeding diseases, and unsafe waste burning near electrical poles.
These are ticking time bombs.
The hazards identified are not just minor issues but potential catalysts for major catastrophes.
Choked gutters and poor drainage systems can lead to flooding, contaminating water sources and exposing residents to waterborne diseases.
The prevalence of wooden structures in close proximity increases the risk of rapid fire spread, putting lives and properties at risk.
Open refuse dumps and dirty gutters near residential areas are breeding grounds for pests and diseases like cholera and malaria.
The practice of burning waste near electrical poles and transformers also poses a significant fire hazard and possible electrical explosions.
The root causes of these hazards are poor urban planning, weak law enforcement, and economic struggles forcing people into unsafe living conditions.
Mempeasem’s growth has outpaced infrastructure development, leading to haphazard settlements and inadequate waste management.
Weak enforcement of building codes and sanitation laws has allowed these unsafe conditions to persist. Many residents, struggling to afford safer alternatives, are unknowingly increasing their vulnerability to disasters.
To mitigate these risks, authorities must act urgently. Building codes and waste management laws should be enforced strictly. The Municipal Assembly should collaborate with NGOs to educate residents on proper waste disposal and disaster prevention.
Drainage and sanitation infrastructure need improvement to prevent flooding and disease outbreaks.
Food vendors and bakers should be relocated from high-risk areas to designated zones with proper facilities. Community education on disaster risks is also crucial to foster a culture of prevention.
Let’s prevent a disaster in Mempeasem. The authorities, residents, and stakeholders must work together to address these hazards. The time to act is now – let’s ensure Mempeasem doesn’t become Accra’s next disaster hotspot.
Theresa Dzifa Tsetse
University of Ghana
Members of the Times Ladies Association (TLA), a women’s wing of the New Times Corporation (NTC) gathered to celebrate International Women’s Day (IWD) last Monday, March 9, 2026, a day after the global event.
The purpose of the event, which was attended by management and a few employees of the corporation, was to honour women’s achievements and inspire them to succeed in their roles in society.
International Women’s Day is marked annually on March 8, to celebrate women’s economic, political and social achievements, educate and raise awareness about women’s equality.
This year’s celebration was on the theme, “Rights. Justice. Action. For All Women and Girls,” with a global campaign theme “Give to Gain,” a call to deeper service to ourselves and humanity.
Indeed the day is worth celebrating because women are unique, invaluable, strong, brilliant, powerful and resilient. As such they deserve respect, appreciation, kindness and love for the immense role they play in their families, workplaces, communities and the nation as a whole.
The President of the Association called on members to empower themselves academically and take advantage of opportunities to improve their lives and careers.
She acknowledged that over the years members of the Times Ladies Association have worked and continue to work so hard for the progress of New Times Corporation (NTC) despite the challenges they faced.
The Spectator urges the ladies to heed to the president’s advice to maintain healthy lifestyles, go for regular medical check-ups, exercise regularly, and have enough rest and support one another as this will help contribute meaningfully to their wellbeing and others.
In the words of the President: “As ladies we have every right to protect our dignity and empower ourselves to advance in life be it academically, politically, socially or economically.”
The call on women to empower themselves is laudable as it will go a long way to push the agenda of gender equality in every sphere of their lives.
The Spectator urges women to take a cue from the global campaign theme, “Give to Gain” to exhibit the qualities of a true woman; Be hardworking, confident, resilient, responsible, optimistic, patient, compassionate, generous, and be dedicated to your roles at home and at the workplace.”
We believe that to achieve gender equality women must be each other’s keeper and change the slogan, “women are their own enemies.” Whatever roles women play they must be united and contribute their quota to national development.
The Spectator wishes all women a Happy International Women’s Day.
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