Editorial
Monument for Atsu: A call too early
Dear Editor,
About three weeks ago, I wrote a letter to The Spectator expressing the hope that the ex-Ghana international footballer, Christian Atsu, would be found. Though he was eventually found, he was not in a state that we were expecting. Last weekend a number of dignitaries joined the bereaved family to observe one week of his demise.
Prior to the one week observation, I chanced on an online publication where a delegation from the Ada Traditional Council had gone to formally announce the death of the football star to President Akufo-Addo at the Jubilee House.
In the midst of the conversation at the Jubilee House, the elders reportedly appealed to the government to build a monument in honour of the late footballer. The request was hinged on the player’s contribution to the game in Ghana as well as his humanitarian works.
It is not clear if the request would be granted but my initial reaction after reading the story was whether the timing of the request was appropriate.
Although, I agree with the fact that the remarkable contribution of the late footballer cannot go unnoticed, I thought the request from the Traditional Council was coming too early, considering that the player had not been buried.
I guess a good time for requesting a monument in honour of the late footballer should be after the March 25, 2023 date which had been scheduled for the funeral. The timing of the request, in my opinion, was premature.
I cannot tell what the President would decide eventually but even if the physical monument is not built to honour the celebrated footballer, the philanthropic works and the lives he had impacted in the course of his career would remain the greatest legacy.
James Kwame Obeng,
Achimota-Accra
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
