Editorial
Fix faulty seats in ‘trotro’
A faulty seat
Dear Editor,
The state of seats in our ‘trotros’ is something that must get the attention of all patrons.
Some of the seats are in a really bad shape yet nothing is being done about them. I sometimes wonder whether the drivers and their mates are aware of such seats. They are very much aware but would not make any move to repair them.
The faulty seats causes damages to passengers by sustaining cuts or leaving their clothes torn. Sometimes, passengers get to their destinations and realise their clothes have become dirty. When these driver’s mates are confronted, they pretend not to have noticed that the seat was faulty.
It appears no one cares about users of such public transports meanwhile some of these welfare issues also comes under the purview of the Ghana Private Road Transports Union (GPRTU) but the only time we hear about it is when petrol prices go up.
They must be up-and-doing in this to ensure passengers comfort in the public vehicles.
Emmanualla Eshun,
Asamankese.
Editorial
Media, FDA must not relent in fight against secondhand smoking
Secondhand smoke poses grave danger to the health of non smokers
Dear Editor,
As I walk through public spaces, I’m reminded of the lingering threat of secondhand smoke.
Despite the progress in anti-smoking campaigns, innocent bystanders continue to suffer from the harmful effects of secondhand smoking.
The facts are alarming.
Secondhand smoke contains over 7,000 chemicals, 70 of which are carcinogenic.
Tobacco use in Ghana is said to result in over 6,700 deaths annually with related illness accounting for 3 per cent deaths in the country.
These includes cancers, cardiovascular diseases and respiratory conditions.
According to the Centre for Disease Control Prevention, a 100 per cent smoke-free and tobacco-free environment is the most comprehensive approach to ensure health and safety.
Children are particularly vulnerable, with increased risk of asthma, bronchitis, and sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).
Pregnant women exposed to secondhand smoke face higher risks of miscarriage, stillbirth, and low birth weight.
To protect public health, there should be stricter enforcement of smoke-free laws initiated by the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) in public spaces.
Smoking at these public places such as pubs, restaurants, work places, supermarkets, children’s playground and hospitals should be discourage and culprit punished to serve as deterrent to others.
The media should also increase awareness campaigns highlighting secondhand smoke risks.
We must prioritise the health and well-being of nonsmokers to ensure a healthy environment by partnering the FDA to stop secondhand smoking.
It is a collective responsibility and we must all come on board to support the FDA to address this concern in the country.
Anita Nyarko-Yirenkyi,
Accra
Editorial
Afienya-Jerusalem road must be fixed
Dear Editor,
I write this piece to draw the attention of the Roads and Highways Ministry about the deplorable nature of the Afienya-Jerusalem road.
The road which construction started around 2016, has been neglected for long.
The road has developed huge pot-holes and is causing a lot of damage to vehicles that use it.
Drivers and passengers alike have complained about the bad state of the road on a number of occasions, but it seems those complaints have not yielded the needed results.
It is as if the authorities in charge of the project don’t care about it yet they will come to the area to campaign for votes.
As a concerned citizen, I would like to urge the government through the Ningo-Prampram Municipal Assembly to ensure that the road is fixed to help address the negative impact it has on road users and residents.
Benjamin Arcton-Tettey
Prampram
