Media tasked to play a key role in sanitation programmes

The Minister for Sanitation and Water Resources Hon. Joseph Kofi Adda, has challenged the media to play a key role in promoting the ministry’s sanitation programme to ensure a clean and healthy environment and rid the country of filth.

The Minister said a clean and healthy environment ensures good health for the citizenry and promotes tourist attraction in the country.

The Minister said this when he briefed the media after touring some unauthorized dumpsites in Accra to find out the level of deterioration at the sites.

The Sector Minister Joseph Kofi Adda stated that the establishment of the Ministry of Sanitation and Water Resources by the government of President Nana Addo Dankwa  Akufo  Addo is an  indication of his commitment to tackling the poor sanitation situation  in the country.

The Minister said the ministry has secured some funds from the government to establish 15 mini transfer stations in Accra to serve as off loading points for the bola taxis that play a key role in the collection and conveyance of refuse from the household.

He said the efforts of the ministry to clean the cities can only be realized if the ministry gets the support of the media.

He said the media as a medium for education and information must help to change people’s attitude and behavior towards sanitation.

Joseph Kofi Adda noted that, open defecation, indiscriminate practices of refuse disposal remains a major challenge which should be seriously tackled.

He said just as the media is leading the fight against the galamsey menace in the country, the same approach should be adopted by the media towards the sanitation programmes of the government.

Addressing the residents and market women at the various sites, the Hon. Minister urged the people to endeavour to keep their surroundings clean.

Joseph Kofi Adda said after the evacuation of the refuse at the Mallam market, the place would be transformed into a recreational and educational facility in the area.

The Deputy Minister Hon. Michael Yaw Gyato who accompanied the minister on the tour said, waste management should be a blessing and not a curse.

On the issue of “borla taxis” Michael Gyato said the Sanitation and Water Resources ministry’s intension was not to throw them out of business because they play a key role in the waste management value. Chain being the direct contact with the people on the ground where the big trucks cannot easily go.

The Deputy Minister assured the operators of the borla taxis that their activities would be streamlined to make them more effective.

He however urged them to make use of the established transfer stations instead of utilizing unauthorized dumpsites which posses a lot of health hazards to the communities.

He said in view of the above, the ministry has ordered the immediate closure of all unauthorized dump sites pending the evacuation of the refuse.