Speaking to a cross-section of journalists yesterday after an assessment tour of some of the major drains in Accra, the Minister of MSWR, Cecilia Abena Dapaah, explained that the exercise was to help rid the Accra drains of plastics and allow for easy flow of water.
…we are doing sanitation or cleaning everyday but some issues like blocking the drains become a bigger issue for residents, hence the presence of Zoomlion and the military to assess the situation. So we came here [Kawukudi in Accra] to assess the situation and make sure the drains are rid of these plastics,” she explained.
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She went on to add that the exercise was also aimed at preventing cholera and the outbreak of other diseases.
So we want to prevent cholera, malaria and other diseases that might break out and at the same time sensitise the residents to clean their environment because it is their primary responsibility,” she said.
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She said, refraining from throwing garbage into the drains, would see the assemblies send tricycles round to collect refuse in the various municipalities.
To this end, Madam Dapaah indicated that her outfit endorses the Environmental Service Providers Agency (ESPA) Ghana policy of “One House One Bin, urging ESPA to continue with the programme.
We endorse the ESPA policy 110% of One House One Bin,” she averred.
When asked about her assessment of the effectiveness of the district assemblies in the Clean Accra Project, she said though the work was not easy, they needed to be applauded.
However, she stressed that aside from sensitizing and persuading residents to be mindful of their environs, “the clearest and easiest way was for all of us to get a bin.”
She also applauded the role of the media in ensuring that the capital city was always clean.
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