Editorial
Enforce road safety regulations to protect lives
Dear Editor,
I write this letter to bring to your notice, the increasing rate at which motorists and pedestrians alike totally disregard road safety regulations in the country.
This form of disregard involves drivers of both private and commercial vehicles as well as motor riders ignoring traffic lights and pedestrians crossing roads at unapproved points, especially on highways.
It is sad to say that these acts by both motorists and pedestrians has led to accidents that had claimed so many lives.
However, as a country, we seem not to learn from them.
You only see motorists and pedestrians obey road safety regulations when they see a police officer.
But the question I keep asking myself is, do we need to see these officers before we comply with road safety regulations? Definitely not.
As much as I will like to commend road safety regulators such as the National Road Safety Commission and the police service for ensuring that road safety regulations are adhered to, I would urge them to enforce the regulations to the latter to address this issue.
Of greater concern is the alarming rate of recklessness on the Kasoa highway by young commercial vehicle drivers.
Their attitude have often resulted in altercations with passengers that do the right thing by asking these recalcitrant drivers to drive with caution.
Unfortunately some of the police men (emphasis on some) don not help the situation as they prefer to punish these wayward drivers by demanding monies from them.
I believe that because they are no examples to guide them, they think road traffic regulation can be broken and paid for but what they fail to understand is that there are lives at stake.
Pedestrians that cross highways at unapproved places should be made to face that aspect of the law, if it exists.
I would urge the motorists and pedestrians to have a change of attitude and stop the disregard of road safety regulations to protect human lives.
Ghana must be saved from its current level of degeneration. There seems to be lawlessness everywhere and only the poor seems to be facing the consequences.
Editorial
Fix railway crossing point on Circle-Kaneshie road
Dear Editor,
After the construction of the Kwame Nkrumah Interchange (Accra Dubai), Ghanaian were full of belief that it could solve at least a few of the problems drivers and commuters faced.
But currently, any regular user of the area would confirm that things have rather skyrocketed.
Sanitation is a big issue as the area. Traffic congestion has become something else while street lights and traffic lights in the area are nonfunctional.
Making matters worse is the regular traffic on the stretch of the Circle-Kaneshie caused by the bad nature of the railway crossing.
It is so bad that motorist are forced to slow down to cross from whichever direction they are coming from.
During the rainy season, it becomes worse as vehicles break down in the large pool of water that gathers at the place.
I wish to appeal to the Roads and Highways ministry or whichever agency is responsible for road maintenance to fix that part of the road.
As a result, public transport operators are forced to divert routes to avoid that area and in the process, causing commotion between drivers and passengers.
I feel that problem must be fixed before the rains set in. Thank you for the space.
Awuah Martin,
Kasoa, C/R
Editorial
Make celebration of Heritage Month compulsory
Heritage or Ghana Month is an annual event held in March to commemorate Ghana’s Independence and rich cultural heritage.
The event, which is celebrated across the country is gradually gaining momentum as schools and organisations have been patronising the event with various activities and programmes displaying Ghana’s rich culture.
Recently, in a vibrant display of Ghana’s culture students of Antoa Senior High School in the Ashanti Region joined forces with the Centre for National Culture (CNC) to launch the 2025 Ghana Month celebration.
According to our reporter, the event was a mixture of traditional cloth demonstrations, dance lessons, poetry recitals, and proverbs competitions as students and staff donned colourful traditional attires, showcasing their rich cultural heritage with infectious enthusiasm.
Some organisation like media houses were also not left out in the celebration of Ghana Month with Newscasters dressed in their traditional attires showcasing their culture while reading the news.
Such celebrations should be encouraged as one of the excited students of Antoa SHS exclaimed, “I never knew how rich our Ghanaian culture was until today. I’m proud to be Ghanaian.” This is a testimony of how the celebration will remind students of their roots and instill in them national values.
Ghana has so many cultures which are hidden and its time to make these cultures to project our rich Ghanaian culture to the outside world.
The Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA) should collaborate with the Ghana Education Service (GES) and Ghana Dance Ensemble to make the Ghana Month more visible in schools by organising activities to educate students on Ghanaian cultural values and norms, to promote national pride and identity.
The Spectator encourages the organisers to extend the celebration to more schools. This can be done through debates, essay writing competitions, among others to share Ghana’s rich heritage. It will help to revive the cultural spirit among the youth to become ambassadors of Ghana’ culture.
GTA must also take advantage of Ghana Month and team up with the hospitality industry such as restaurants, hoteliers, Chop Bar operators, among others to organise a traditional cuisine festival like cooking and eating competitions among organisations and associations to boost tourism in Ghana. Such competitions will give people insight into the preparations of Ghanaian local foods and drinks, and promote healthy living in families. The fashion industry should also come on board to help take Ghana Month a notch higher.
In the words of the Acting Regional Director of the CNC in the Ashanti Region, Mr Peter Kofi Marfo “Let us Wear Ghana, Eat Ghana, See Ghana, Speak Ghana, Hear and Dance Ghana, together, we’ll keep our cultural flame burning bright.”
The Spectator is hopeful that by making the celebration of Ghana Month compulsory. Ghanaians will remain committed to promoting their rich culture and heritage, for future generations.
