Editorial

Need to reduce funeral expenses

Funerals are usually organised to honour the dead because humans are considered special creations of God.

It is, however, becoming worrying that high expenses are usually incurred by families during the organisation of funerals for loved ones.

There is nothing wrong with incurring some costs in connection with funerals but in a situation where millions and millions of Ghana Cedis, sometimes dollars, are spent on the dead, it becomes difficult, sometimes, to understand them.

Today, there is hardly any difference between a party organised for friends and funeral organised for lost ones.

This is because in both instances, sumptuous meals are prepared for those who attend such events, whether party or funeral.

Much money can be saved on funeral and used to cater for children who need to be well educated to become useful, productive members of society.

There have been cases, countless of them, where new cloths are cut and sewn to mark such events. This explains why upon the death of certain people, families that do not have much money begin to weep and weep, realising that getting money for funerals will be difficult to come by.

Some members or families also go and borrow huge sums of money just to organise funerals after which they are mercilessly tackled for the repayment of the loan taken.

All these are lifestyles that are needless and should, therefore, be avoided if we are to live in peace with one another.

It is, therefore, important to minimise expenses on funerals and rather save money for the living. This is what we need to make society a joyous one.

Editorial

COMMENT: Let’s give peace chance

The United Nations observed the International Day of Families on Thursday, May 15, and the International Day of Living Together in Peace last Friday, May 16.

The good news is that both festivities call for an action-driven strategy to resolve disputes and advance harmony in order to foster peace, understanding, and unity.

The International Day of Families is a celebration of all kinds of families with the goal of fostering closer ties between them. That the United Nations (UN) plans and encourages a range of events to honour the Day on this unique day is inspiring.

More encouraging is the fact that the celebration contributes to increasing awareness of the various family-related and family-affecting issues, such as gender inequality, healthcare, education, violence, and prejudice.

It is a public holiday in other countries, and the intention is for parents to spend an additional day with their children and extended family, which surely strengthens the bonds within the family. This bolsters the theme for this year’s International Day of Families, “Family-Oriented Policies for Sustainable Development.”

Since living together as a family offers its members warmth, love, friendship, emotional support, and security – especially amongst couples and their children – the celebration should be encouraged.

In a similar vein, the International Day of Living Together in Peace is observed to consistently mobilise the global community’s efforts to advance tolerance, peace, inclusion, understanding, and solidarity.

Every year, May 16 is celebrated globally to support the goal of living and acting as one, unified in variety and differences, in order to create a sustainable world of harmony, peace, and solidarity.

Around the world, people observe a minute of silence at noon on this day. Peace conferences and workshops are arranged to commemorate the day, and others participate in intercultural dialogue.

Saying no to violence, embracing diversity, understanding one another even during disagreements or conflicts, avoiding discrimination, appreciating others, and treating everyone with decency and respect are all necessary for living in peace.

Since unresolved disagreements result in strained relationships, stress, and even mental health difficulties that eventually influence productivity, creativity, and general well-being, every effort must be made to coexist peacefully.

The Spectator believes that an act of compassion, forgiveness, and tolerance that results in the cessation of conflicts is necessary for peace to reign.

Therefore, in order to facilitate the work of the National Peace Council, we implore families, communities, ethnic groups, religious organisations, government representatives, and other parties involved in conflicts to give peace a chance and encourage reconciliation.

A more peaceful and successful society will result from our acceptance of peace since it will encourage collaboration, economic expansion, social stability, improved well-being, less conflict, and trust.

Editorial

Herbal medicine producers must build capacity

Dear Editor,

IN recent times, herbal medicines, which used to be what most of our older folks relied on to cure their diseases seems to be losing their relevance.

This has been due to the emergence of orthodox medicines.

Although some are of the view that orthodox medicines are more effective than herbal medicines, I believe herbal medicines could still be relied upon.

What has also contributed to the dwindling fortunes of herbal medicines is the poor standards.

The Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) has been doing its best to ensure that herbal medicines produced locally met the standards required as well as their approval by the Authority.

Furthermore, traditional and herbal medicine producers in the country have also complained about the lack of support from the government in promoting their products.

In my opinion, I think it is about time traditional and herbal medicine producers produce on a large scale to meet the growing demands of their markets, especially those that have been approved by the FDA.

What I have realised is that they don’t produce enough because they lack the resources.

Also, I think those that produce similar products can collaborate and produce on a large scale to meet the growing demand.

With that, health facilities can have access to these medicines in large quantities to complement the orthodox medicines that are available.

Once they are able to do this, the government will also take them more seriously and provide them with the needed support to produce on a large scale to boost the sector.

Cletus Amedeka,

Volta region