President John Dramani Mahama has officially relaunched the National Sanitation Day initiative, emphasizing the importance of reviving Ghana’s traditional values of cleanliness and shared civic duty.
Speaking at the event in Accra, Mahama reminded Ghanaians that maintaining sanitation is not only a public health necessity but a cultural and religious imperative. Quoting the well-known adage, “Cleanliness is next to godliness,” he recalled his childhood in Damongo, where community members would rise early to clean their surroundings — a practice he noted is now largely neglected.
Comparing Ghana's current sanitation standards to countries such as Japan and Singapore, Mahama highlighted the significant role of cultural discipline in national cleanliness.
“In Singapore, even chewing gum is banned. That’s how seriously they take cleanliness,” he said.
To address the growing sanitation challenges, Mahama proposed several initiatives:
- Civic Education in Schools: A reintroduction of civic education to instill values of responsibility and discipline from a young age.
- Empowering Traditional Leaders: The establishment of sanitation courts within the palaces of traditional rulers to help enforce local hygiene by-laws.
- Accountability for Local Authorities: Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) will be evaluated based on sanitation outcomes in their jurisdictions.
- Reward and Sanction System: Districts that demonstrate excellence in sanitation will be rewarded, while those that fail to meet standards will face consequences.
Mahama also commended grassroots initiatives like the Buzzstop Boys, a youth-led group actively promoting environmental cleanliness, and encouraged more community-based volunteerism.
Linking the sanitation campaign to his broader 24-hour economy policy, Mahama proposed that essential services such as garbage collection and cesspit emptying be conducted at night to reduce daytime traffic congestion and enhance efficiency.
In conclusion, the former president stressed the collective nature of the responsibility, urging every citizen to play their part:
“Government alone cannot keep Ghana clean. We must all be watchdogs of our environment so we can build cleaner communities, cleaner towns, and cleaner cities.”
Source: MyNewsGh.com
Comments
Post a Comment