Editorial
Urgent renovation needed for Koforidua Central Market
Crowded Koforidua Central Market
Dear Editor,
I am writing to draw attention to a pressing issue that affects the heart of our community, ie, the state of the Central Market in Koforidua, the capital of the Eastern Region.
In recent times, the Koforidua Central Market has become an issue of concern among its inhabitants. The market is a bustling hub, with a multitude of traders offering their goods and services to the local population. However, the current condition of the market is a cause for alarm.
The central market’s infrastructure has deteriorated over the years, and it is now in a state of disrepair. The recent increase in rainfall has worsened the situation, as the market’s roofing is unable to provide adequate protection.
Consequently, traders often find their goods drenched, leading to substantial financial losses. It is disheartening to witness hardworking individuals struggle to make ends meet due to this avoidable problem.
Moreover, the stores within the Koforidua Central Market is inadequate for the number of traders it accommodates.
This overcrowding not only hampers business operations but also poses safety concerns. A thoughtful renovation that includes expanding the market would greatly benefit our community.
The condition of the gutters within the market is yet another concern.
These gutters are perpetually clogged, and the situation deteriorates significantly during heavy rainfall.
The resulting stagnant water not only obstructs the movement of both traders and customers but also creates an unsanitary and foul-smelling environment.
This poses health hazards and negatively impacts the overall experience of those who trade near the gutters.
I am writing this letter to implore the relevant authorities to take immediate action.
The renovation of the Koforidua Central Market is imperative to create a conducive atmosphere for our hardworking traders and improve the overall living conditions in our beloved city.
We must ensure that our community members can conduct their businesses without fear of financial losses or health hazards.
I urge all concerned parties, including government officials, municipal authorities, and community leaders, to prioritise the renovation and expansion of the Koforidua Central Market.
Let us work together to restore this vital economic and social hub to its former glory and create a thriving, clean, and safe environment for our traders and residents.
George Obeng Osei Koforidua
Editorial
Parents urged to take responsibility for sex education
Dr. Francis Wuobar, a Gynaecologist at the Eastern Regional Hospital in Koforidua has urged parents to take the lead in providing sex education to their children, stressing that they were in the best position to guide them through the changes of adolescence.
According to him, sex education remained a taboo subject in most Ghanaian homes, a culture that must change to prevent children from seeking misleading information elsewhere.
“With the evolving nature of society and technological advancements, today’s children will either learn about sex on the internet or from their peers, who may offer wrong advice,” he cautioned.
Dr. Wuobar noted that the health system and society often concentrate on the reproductive stage of life, neglecting the adolescent and menopausal phases.
“When a woman reaches the reproductive period and gets pregnant, everyone rallies around her. But before that stage, during adolescence, there is little attention and guidance, which has contributed to the rising cases of teenage pregnancy,” he explained.
He observed that many adolescents lack access to counseling and adolescent clinics, creating a vacuum that forces them to explore on their own.
“The answers they seek, adults and parents are not willing to provide. Their peers, who are equally uninformed, become their only source of advice. This exploration is one of the major contributors to teenage pregnancy,” he said.
Dr. Wuobar therefore called on parents to create open and confidential spaces for discussion, where children can freely ask questions about sex, puberty, and relationships.
He emphasized that parents must help adolescents understand the consequences of unprotected sex, the changes they go through, and what choices were right or wrong.
“Today’s generation is curious and asks questions, unlike in the past when children were silent. Parents should not rebuke them but rather engage them seriously and guide them through this turbulent stage,” he advised.
He further appealed to the health sector to establish more adolescent clinics across the country to give young people safe spaces to seek information and counseling.
That, he said, would help reduce the high incidence of teenage pregnancy and support adolescents in making informed decisions about their sexual health.
From Ama Tekyiwaa Ampadu Agyeman, Koforidua
Editorial
Addressing unhealthy conditions at Akropong Mandela Market
Dear Editor,
The Akropong Mandela Market, a vibrant centre of commerce, has been in a terrible state for over a decade now.
Central to the problem is a public toilet located near the market, which has become a breeding ground for diseases and a source of discomfort for both food vendors and customers.
This toilet, utilised by everyone in the town, is positioned too close to the market, severely affecting the vendors who spend long hours selling their goods.
They are constantly exposed to unsanitary conditions mixed with foul odours emanating from the facility.
Agnes, a vendor at the market is sad about the apparent lack of concern from those responsible for maintaining the toilet. Despite collecting user fees, there seems to be little effort to keep the facility clean and hygienic.
The situation at the Akropong Mandela Market highlights the urgent need for effective waste management and sanitation infrastructure in public spaces.
Authorities must take immediate action to ensure the facility is regularly maintained and cleaned. Vendors and customers deserve a safe and healthy environment to conduct their daily activities.
In the meantime, the vendors are urging local government officials to intervene and find a lasting solution to this problem.
Only through collective action can the health and well-being of both vendors and customers be safeguarded to restore the Akropong Mandela Market to its former glory as a thriving commercial hub.
Addo Sarah Ansah Student,
UNIMAC–IJ(BACS26275)
Join our WhatsApp Channel now!
https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VbBElzjInlqHhl1aTU27
