Save Weija Dam now

A foreign commentator once remarked that Ghana is a beautiful country whose people show hospitality to all foreigners.

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However, the foreigner also spoke about a general weakness and that is the growing acts of indiscipline in all spheres of human endeavour.

We think there are many Ghanaians who out of the sheer love for Ghana will disagree with the assertion of this foreigner and damn him for going beyond bounds.

But in all sincerity, is it not about time that we conceded to the growing weakness of indiscipline that threatens the peace and stability of the country?

Again, our elders say that nobody uses the left hand to point towards the house of his or her father. This must explain the reason why we as a people will still insist that Ghana is the best place in the world in spite of the challenges.

Our patritotic instincts nothwithstanding, the Daily Graphic thinks that the time has come for the country to step back and revisit the values of the good old days when deviants trembled before law enforcement agencies.

Today, we have reports of rampaging youths attacking and burning down police stations, party activists or foot soldiers taking hostage their leaders and a section of the public disregarding the rules on sanitation, driving and building of houses and other structures at unauthorised places.

These acts of lawlessness are retarding our collective efforts to overcome poverty, disease and squalor. Our present attitude to national issues will lead us astray.

Unfortunately, the overriding concern of many Ghanaians including those who serve in public offices is to promote causes that inure to their personal gain and those of his cronies, family and friends.

If the situation on the ground is contrary to the position being espoused by the Daily Graphic, then why is it that acts of indiscipline and lawlessness appear to have overwhelmed our society.

We leave the bigger picture of indiscipline for another day but for now let us look at the implications of the announcement by the Ghana Urban Water Limited (GUWL) of its intention to spill any excess water in the Weija Dam if the water exceeds the safe operational level of 47 feet.

The GUWL has spilled water from the dam in the past  and this action caused a lot of pain to residents living downstream the dam.

Anytime that has happened the people who have enchroached on sites reserved for the conservation of flora and sauna always run to the government for humanitarian relief.

We need the rains to grow our crops for local consumption and for export so we cannot wish the rains away. This means that the water level will rise in the Weija Dam.

The GUWL has sounded the alarm bells to alert the residents in seven communities downstream the dam to be ready to evacuate the area.

The residents do not seem to be bothered by the red alert by the water company as can be inferred from the statement by the assembly member for Oblogo Electoral Area, Mr Edmund Cudjoe that the residents were used to the situation.

We disagree with the assemby member because the spillage of the dam will inundate most houses in the seven communities thus bringing all activities including academic work to a standstill.

It is regretable that all public lands have been encroached upon in the catchment area of the dam by developers with the active connivance of public officials who are paid to protect state property.

The Daily Graphic thinks there is no way we can make progress with the utter disregard for the norms of progressive societies and expect to break the barriers towards desirable change for the good of all.

Let us resolve now never to allow anybody no matter the person’s status in society to encroach on public facilities.

It is about time we resorted to the adage in Twi “Nea mboa edi no, wondi nk0”, which literally means we should ignore the past but be vigilant and up to the task henceforth so that we can make progress.

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