We must collaborate to rid Accra of filth — G/A Regional Minister
The Greater Accra Regional Minister, Linda Ocloo, has rallied all stakeholders within the region to work together to help implement a robust sanitation policy to rid the city of filth and promote a healthy environment.
Ms Ocloo said the government planned to reintroduce the National Sanitation Day (NSD), which would require all metropolitan, municipal and district assemblies (MMDAs) to hold clean-up exercises on the last Friday of every month.
At her first meeting with technocrats, directors, heads of institutions and managers of programmes at all the 29 MMDAs at the Greater Accra Regional Coordinating Council (GARCC) yesterday, the Regional Minister said the capacity of waste management units at MMDAs would be strengthened to perform their roles effectively as part of the comprehensive sanitation policy.
The Shai Osudoku Member of Parliament (MP) also stressed that the policy would make issues of sanitation part of the key performance indicators (KPIs) of all the 29 metropolitan, municipal and district chief executives (MMDCEs) in the region.
At the meeting, the minister gave a firm assurance that improved sanitation and waste management would be one of the key issues on the reset agenda of the government.
She said apart from the reintroduction of the NSD, efforts would be made to promote environmental cleanliness by prioritising regional sanitation awards.
Ms Ocloo stressed that achieving that goal would require a collective effort by all stakeholders, faith-based organisations and development partners, to promote the government’s reset agenda.
“I cannot succeed without you, and I urge you to work closely with me so that we can achieve greatness together,” she said.
Ms Ocloo said she was going to work closely with the security agencies and the MMDAs to instil discipline on the roads by ensuring that those who took over pedestrian walkways were removed.
The Greater Accra Regional Minister’s call to rid Accra of filth highlights the urgent need for collective action in tackling sanitation challenges in the city. Waste management has been a persistent issue in Accra, with problems such as poor waste disposal habits, inadequate drainage systems, and insufficient enforcement of sanitation laws contributing to the filth.
