After launch of National Sanitation Campaign, what next?

LetsCleanGhana #PlayYourPart #SesaWoSuban as the themes for Ghana’s National Sanitation Campaign is a laudable one. Beyond the brilliance, mention must be made of the fact that sanitation campaigns in Ghana didn’t start with the Nana Akuffo-Addo led government. Alhaji Aliu Mahama (of blessed memory) started a very vigorous campaign against filth in 2008.

John Mahama’s administration took it a notch higher with the once-a-month sanitation project. Somewhere along the line, the sanitation campaign lost steam. The abandoned (smelly) waste found its way back into the gutters, chocking the whole system. Like joke like joke, people no longer saw the need to support the project. That is Ghana for you.

So here we are with another nice initiative to make Accra one of the cleanest cities in the world. We all as a people should not allow this new project to sink lower like the previous ones. This campaign is meant for everyone and is for every Ghanaian. #LetsCleanGhana #PlayYourPart #SesaWoSuban.

Making National Sanitation Campaign Functional

The Ghana government has promised to tackle the issue using the strategies below:

• Establishment of the National Sanitation Authority.

• President Akufo-Addo will soon announce the establishment of National Sanitation Fund.

• Local government must see to it that one house one toilet policy is adhered to.

• Sanitation Ministry and Attorney General’s office to set aside a day to try sanitation offences.

• The Evaluation and Monitoring Minister is to publish Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assembly’s sanitation performances quarterly.

• Sanitation Ambassadors will be appointed to help with the campaign.

• The development of three new material recovery sites for the recovery and recycling of waste from Accra.

• Providing adequate resources for waste management companies with modern and effective tools for their work.

• Officers, Sanitation Marshals and Deputy Marshals will be assigned to all government departments and agencies. They’ll ensure compliance with sanitation by-laws.

• The establishment of a National Sanitation Brigade, made up of Ghanaian youth, to enforce sanitation laws nationwide.

• Automatic sweepers will be deployed for major streets.

• Re-zoning of concessions for environmental service providers, equipping of tricycle operators and construction of mini-transfer stations. This will facilitate the rapid collection and transportation of waste from cities.

• Access to credit facilities and tax incentives to enable environmental service providers to procure their needed logistics.

• Acquiring for the Accra metropolis, three new sites to serve as integrated material recovery sites. The sites are located at Otinibi and Gbawe/Mallam in the Greater Accra Region as well as Nsumia ‘Number 3’ in the Adoagyiri municipality in the Eastern Region.

• Other regions will get similar landfill sites; to ensure that there are adequate, modern, engineered and environmentally acceptable sites for the processing of waste nationwide.

The Role of the Citizenry

Mahatma Gandhi once said “A small spade is the means of salvation from a great nuisance. Leaving night soil, cleaning the nose or spitting on the road is a sin against God, as well as humanity; and betrays a sad want of consideration for others. The man who does not cover his waste deserves a heavy penalty even if he lives in a forest”.

To bring the views of Gandhi home, we all have a collective responsibility to make this sanitation campaign work. For once in our lives, let’s not add political colouring to cleanliness. Please shove the “Ye ma yen nhwe” (do it lets see) mentality into the dustbin. Issues of sanitary environment go beyond party affiliations. Health is life; not party members’ life is life… #PlayYourPart #SesaWoSuban

Our chiefs, queen mothers, religious leaders, civil society organisations, and private sector operators have a role to play. We know these personalities are very influential. Let’s see them throwing their weight behind it, making every town cleaner for all of us.

To the citizenry, it’s time to rise up to the challenge and help make a difference.

• Keep your surroundings and locality clean.

• Use dustbins and don’t litter.

• Don’t defecate in the open.

• Don’t dump refuse at unauthorised places.

• Avoid urinating in the open. It’s unladylike/ungentlemanly.

• Correct persons guilty of insanitary practices (if you can).

How To Join As A Sanitation Volunteer

• Log on to https://nationalsanitationcampaign.com/

• On the top right-hand corner of the site, you’ll see a “Be A Volunteer” popup

• Enter your name, email address and phone number to join the sanitation fight.