Editorial
Let’s make peace priority as we vote on December 7
The long-awaited presidential and parliamentary elections are finally here, and the most crucial thing we require is peace during and after the elections.
It is a must for Ghanaians to uphold peace, a state of tranquility devoid of conflict or disruption in this election.
In order to ensure free, fair, and transparent elections, a number of institutions and organisations, including the Peace Council, the media, non-governmental organisations, and religious groups, have sent out messages of peace in the run-up to the polls.
The Spectator continues to spread the message of peace as we urge the electorate to make peace a priority in the electoral process to elect a President and Members of Parliament (MPs).
Every voter should be able to exercise their right to vote without any form of compulsion, as Ghanaians are members of multiple political parties and are free to select the candidate of their choice.
After all, voting is about exercising your right to vote, which should be done quietly and peacefully, not about insulting and fighting. We should therefore be mindful of the fact that Ghana belongs to all of us.
Remember your vote is secret and to prevent any confrontation after exercising your franchise go home and pray. Do not post anything on social media that will cause people to react negatively.
Ghana has long been a peaceful nation and a symbol of democracy in Africa; we must preserve this stability and peace.
We must be careful with what we say to avoid provoking anger that could turn violent.
The Spectator urges the security agencies to be tolerant and professional as they discharge their duties. In the same vein, officials of the Electoral Commission should do effective monitoring of the electoral process and swiftly provide the necessary logistics required to enable voting.
We urge all political parties and their supporters to adhere to the nation’s laws and regulations. The media should be circumspect in their reportage and provide accurate and balanced reporting.
Our prayer is that Ghana will emerge victorious at the end of the elections. To achieve this let us endeavour to uphold peace.
God bless our homeland Ghana and make our nation great and strong.
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
Don’t prophesy to cause fear and panic
Dear Editor,
Curtains on the year 2024, is gradually drawing to close, with many, achieving their dreams while others hope for a better 2025.
Amidst this, churches have planned their watch night services with various themes for the night hoping to give Christians and Ghanaians at large a chance to enter the New Year with optimism.
At the service, there will prophecies or predictions for the coming year, with some causing fear and panic among the populace.
In the year 2021, the Ghana Police Service banned prophecies during 31st night services, also known as watch night services.
Such prophecies, according to the police has caused fear and panic among targeted persons
It seems churches and their leaders have forgotten about this ban, I wish to call in the police to remind the churches to enforce the ban which were mostly about the death of prominent persons in the society.
I believe this will again bring sanity into the Christianity and the society at whole
