Editorial
Need to control family size
National development greatly depends on the size of population we have in the country. If the rate of population growth is higher than economic development, the standard of living is likely to fall.
On the other hand, if economic development rises higher than population growth, standard of living will improve.
This explains why in every country including Ghana, efforts must be made to ensure that population is brought under acceptable control so that families and government can provide adequately for the people they have to cater for.
Day in day out we yearn for schools, good drinking water, good roads, hospitals and so on.
It is good to ensure that these items are provided adequately for the people. Therefore, if the supply of these items are inadequate, many of our people will not be happy and will have to live miserably in society.
Every family is free to produce the number of people it can cater for. However, it is not a particular family that will cater for all the needs of its members. For example, every family cannot build its own school, hospitals, roads, etc for all the members born into it. What happens is that individuals in society tend to depend on the state for their respective socioeconomic development.
Thus, individuals with small family members will have to be competing with those who have very large family members over facilities like roads, water, healthcare and so on. It is for this reason that people must understand issues relating to national population policies. The resources available in a state are meant for everyone, so if each individual gives birth to a small number of people, the country will be able to make lives better by bringing more socioeconomic facilities for people to enjoy.
Many poor people with very little or no income live in rickety structures which they consider as houses. Their standard of living in these areas is very poor but in contrast we have some very rich people who live in two or three bedroom houses with family sizes of about three or four people.
These people tend to enjoy better lives because they have access to good water, electricity, good roads and many other facilities which large families may not have. It is in the light of all these reasons that The Spectator may like to appeal to all Ghanaians to come up with family members they can adequately cater for. If this is done, the nation can easily develop more facilities for its people so that individuals and family members can enjoy higher standard of living.
It is expected that every Ghanaian will adhere to this piece of advice, so that life can be made better for each and everyone of us. We should note that the social amenities needed to make life better for each of us greatly depend on our own selves so we need to control population in our own way so that things can be made better for us all.
This way, life can be made more meaningful as expected.
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
