Congrats AMA boss but...
The Accra Metropolitan Chief Executive, Mr Alfred Okoe Vanderpuije, last Thursday made Ghanaians proud when he beat contestants from other African countries to win the inaugural edition of the prestigious President Jose Eduardo Santos Mayor Awards held in Angola.
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While congratulating Mr Vanderpuije on this achievement, the Daily Graphic wishes to stress that the award, instead of massaging his ego, must spur him on to tackle the myriad of challenges that continue to confront inhabitants of the national capital, Accra.
One of such key challenges is sanitation.
Indiscriminate disposal of waste is a major problem confronting Accra and despite the institution of the National Sanitation Day, the problem does not seem to abate.
All across Accra piles of refuse can be sighted at unapproved locations, with the attendant consequences for the health of residents.
Gutters all over Accra are choked with waste, while stagnant water breeds mosquitoes that exacerbate the malaria situation.
Not quite long ago, the country had to lose a good number of its citizens to cholera, a preventable disease that is brought about by insanitary conditions.
The road network in parts of the national capital is nothing to write home about, thereby making otherwise short journeys very long and tortuous.
A good number of the roads in the city are in a constant state of disrepair, posing danger to road users.
Traffic management continues to be a nagging problem that saps the energy out of commuters in the morning and after close of work.
One other issue is the continuous springing up of unapproved structures on any available piece of land, regardless of location in the city.
Kiosks can be found anywhere nowadays. Plantain roasters, garages and containers are located anywhere with careless abandon, while the assembly looks on in helpless amazement.
Places that have been designated as residential areas are fast losing their class because of these unapproved developments.
Although skyscrapers are being constructed day by day, unchecked unapproved structures continue to dent an otherwise picturesque landscape that is anticipated of a national capital.
Driving home after close of work in the evening has become a hellish experience.
The Daily Graphic believes that much needs to be done in order to position the national capital on a threshold that will elicit nothing short of admiration from those who visit. That way, the city will live up to its numerous accolades as “The Gateway to Africa” and “The Millennium City”.
We share in the joy of the award but wish to entreat that ample justification, evident by the tackling of some of these challenges, remains key in efforts to make Accra a place to live.
Otherwise, the award will be seen as a fluke or a public relations gimmick.