Editorial
Let’s make Accra the cleanest city in Africa
Dear Editor,
Sanitation in Accra has become a pressing topic over the years.
Accra was previously a very beautiful and attractive city in nature. People came from far and near to see the beauty of this wonderful city. It was a city enriched with Ghanaian culture which attracted both tourists and investors.
One may argue that some of the above mentioned qualities still hold, but then, these people are now greeted with heaps of rubbish and overflowing dustbins at bus stops, markets and all around the city.
Plastic and rubber bags dispersed along walkways and road sides. Gutters choked with rubbers and stagnant waters releasing bad and unpleasant smells polluting the air, making it uncomfortable to walk around the city and creating an unsafe atmosphere.
All these are caused by poor sanitation behaviours of the citizens. Littering around, dumping of waste material in gutters which gets the choked.
These activities also cause floods during the rainy season. Stagnant waters also breeds mosquitoes which leads to malaria outbreaks. Other diseases like cholera and diarrhea are also caused by these.
The government over the years has put in place measures to turn the situation around.
Apart from the government’s manifesto promise in 2017 to make Accra the cleanest city in Africa, there have been several campaigns and awareness creation to stem the tide.
In March 2022, the former minister for Sanitation and Water Resources, Mrs. Cecilia Abena Dapaah launched a bio-digester construction to help increase the number of toilets in the country.
Non-governmental organizations like Water Aid have also contributed to making Accra very clean.
Groups like the Bus Stop boys have organised clean up exercises to make the city clean.
There is also the Clean Ghana Sanitation Project which is committed to providing portable toilet facilities and sanitation services to low income residents in Ghana.
The question, therefore, is when this agenda would be achieved.
It all boils down to the citizens. We all have to make up our minds to come together and restore the true identity of Accra. Let’s make it the once beautiful city we knew.
Eunice Tetteh
tetteheunice246@gmail.com
University of Media Arts and Communication-Institute of Journalism
UNIMAC-IJ (Faculty of Journalism)
NAASHORMEYCHRISTABEL@GMAIL. COM
Editorial
ECG PowerApp: A mixed bag of technical issues, uncredited payment concerns
Dear Editor,
On February 18, 2020, the former Vice President, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, launched the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) PowerApp, a mobile application designed in-house by staff of ECG.
It was to improve its service delivery to its customers.
The development of the app also meant that customers of ECG would now have the opportunity to purchase power and pay bills using their mobile phones.
That means customers of ECG would no longer have to join long queues to purchase power, but could now do that at their own convenience and in the comfort of their homes.
According to the Communication Officer, the PowerApp has increased annual revenue growth for the company.
He said as of April 2024, the new application system had increased its annual revenue growth by 128 per cent as compared to the old system at negative seven per cent.
Despite these reasons for which the app was developed and the benefits it has brought to ECG, there have been growing concerns among a section of the public on its use.
Some have argued that they were not credited after using the app to recharge their prepaid meter while the money was deducted from their MoMo accounts.
Such experience has made some customers vow not use the app to recharge their prepaid meters but rather go to prepaid vendors nearby to purchase credit. Some are even prepared to travel to far places to purchase prepaid credits.
I think such experience does not speak well of ECG because it could affect public trust in the company in its service delivery. This is the more reason why the ECG has to take the concerns raised by its customers seriously.
Kofi Bruce,
Mampong
Editorial
Our women can deliver
Dear Editor,
I write to congratulate the women that have so far caught the attention of President John Dramani Mahama for ministerial appointment.
So far, over 10 women have been vetted already and they all gave a very good account of themselves and I hope that they perform to the best of their abilities.
This is a good sign from President Mahama who demonstrated a strong resolve to provide an enabling environment for the women to be part of decision making by choosing a woman as his Vice President.
And true to his word, a number of women have been appointed in ministerial positions and others as presidential staffers.
I believe the other appointments to come would also have women making the cut.
This would be a morale booster for the young women out there who thinks that their position is the kitchen or in a man’s house as a wife.
This is a clear case of women given the urge to aim to rise above what society and traditional norms have set for them. I wish them well.
Maame Atta,
Kokompe
