Government is expected to recruit over 10,000 Ghanaians for the implementation of the yet-to-be formed National Sanitation Brigade as part of government’s national sanitation campaign.
President Nana Akufo-Addo on Monday November 13, 2017, launched the National Sanitation Campaign in a bid to improve sanitation nationwide, and also fulfill his promise of making Accra the cleanest city in Africa possible.
Speaking in an interview on the Citi Breakfast Show on Tuesday, the Minister of Sanitation and Water Resources, Joseph Kofi Adda, said his outfit has proposed for each of the 216 Metropolitan Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) to recruit an average of 50 people to serve on the brigade.
[contextly_sidebar id=”Lh9MXhEep6hpvDprqLhzLg1WYjILOpKc”]“It will depend on the amount of waste generated and also the population in the communities. Greater Accra will have much more in terms of numbers forming the sanitation brigade. But from my own little investigation, we have an average of 50 people per assembly; it will be good for a start.”
He added that the Metropolitan assemblies could also recruit more when the need arises.
“It will [also] depend on the terrains, then we can now increase to meet that need. If you use 50 people as a benchmark, that will be 50 times 216, but when you come to the metropolitan areas where we have sub metros they might have 50 for each sub-metro, I think that will be good for a start,” the Minister added.
About sanitation brigade
The brigade according to President Akufo-Addo who made the announcement, will be made up of Ghanaian youth who will police the adherence to the rules and regulations on sanitation in both state and private properties.
“The personnel of this outfit would conduct regular visits to all offices to ensure that there is compliance, and where it so requires, take legal action against those infringing on the laws,” President Akufo-Addo stated.
The National Sanitation Brigade adds to other initiatives, including the enhancement of operations of tricycle rubbish collectors, and the construction of mini-transfer stations, to improve sanitation and aid the disposal of waste.
There will also be automated sweepers on major streets, that will also be manned and monitored by the Sanitation Brigade personnel.
“This campaign is not going to be a nine-day wonder. It will run over the entire period of my mandate to ensure that Ghana is clean. I remain committed to this, and I am determined to ensure that the job is done,” the President assured.
Meanwhile, the extent of the powers of this brigade is yet to be ascertained.
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By: Godwin Akweiteh Allotey/citifmonline.com/Ghana
Follow @AlloteyGodwin