Editorial
Give stiffer punishment to rapists
Dear Editor,
I would like to draw your attention to the recurring cases of defilement reported by the media in recent times.
For the past few weeks, I have read in different newspapers about persons being imprisoned or jailed for defilement.
The issue of defilement has become rampant and it is causing fear among girls between the ages of 5 – 12.
These girls being raped or defiled by men who ask for their help and later lure them into their rooms, defile them and threaten to kill them or their parents if they mention it to anyone.
The men who do this to these young girls are old enough to be their fathers or even grandfathers and they pose nothing but danger to the lives of the young ones.
I would like to urge parents to be extra careful with people they leave their children with at home when going out.
Also, parents must ensure that they educate their children and tell them the need to open up when any man do such things to them.
I wish the appropriate authorities concerned would hand culprits of such crimes very harsh punishment to serve as a deterrent to others.
With that in mind, it will make the act unattractive.
Edna Johnson,
Pokuase
Editorial
Rising cost of renting in Accra worrying
Dear Editor,
It is the dream of every young adult to build and live in his or her own apartment or house and not become a tenant in another person’s house. However, such a dream looks far from becoming a reality when one considers the amount to pay to rent an apartment in the capital.
The situation has even become unbearable as the wages of most employed individuals are way lower what landlords charge.
As a young man who is not married, I always imagine getting married and live in a rented apartment with my family, and having to also pay for utility and other basic needs. That alone scares me about marriage.
In Accra, landlords take as much as GHȻ700.00 a month for an apartment with toilets and bathrooms, while some even take the same amount for single rooms without toilets and baths.
Also, one has to sometimes deal with the issue of individuals who are referred to as ‘agents’ when trying to find an apartment to rent. These agents even take monies and don’t even get their clients the type of houses they want.
We can not allow this to continue as most landlords and agents continue to extort monies from their tenants by ‘unreasonably’ increasing house rents on a monthly and yearly basis, thereby putting pressure on them.
I would like to urge the government to have a look at the rent control system of the country to ensure that tenants are not taken advantage of by landlords.
I have also seen young guys and ladies who try to move away from family houses and rent apartments because they want some privacy. My advice to such youngsters is that renting an apartment is not an easy thing, especially when you are not earning much. It is better to stay in the family house and rather save enough to get their own houses.
This is an area of concern government must take a look at and do something about it.
Atom,
Sukura
Editorial
Provide adequate security for Christmas
Christmas is four days away and Ghanaians are preparing feverishly for the grand occasion.
It is a momentous occasion on the calendar of Christians. It marks the commemoration of the birth of Jesus Christ.
After the various church services to mark it, the whole atmosphere turns into one for merrymaking while people also share gifts to friends and family members.
Interestingly, the same period witnesses a surge in criminal activities as cases of armed robbery, phone snatching and other negative vices happen.
That is the reason why I want to appeal to the security agencies to be watchful within the period.
The Police, especially is already stretched as a result of the recent elections held and preparation for the January 7 swearing in ceremony to follow but that should not leave criminals with a field day.
Just as the service intensify patrols within the period, I wish to appeal for a repetition of the exercise to curb crime in the society.
Residents can also help in this regard by providing information on the activities of strange characters in our various vicinities.
With these in place, one can be sure that the celebration would be peaceful and enjoyable, devoid of troubles
