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

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This brigade, to be made up of Ghanaian youth, will police the adherence to the rules and regulations on sanitation in both state and private properties.

[contextly_sidebar id=”VHR1VCVr3MIRLyYPAMxvqzoXlbUuk8Yh”]“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 extent of the powers of this brigade is yet to be ascertained.

This move will be seen as a step in the right direction for some who feel Ghana’s sanitation problems will be addressed by serious steps to enforce the country’s sanitation by-laws.

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.

In line with his vision to make Accra the cleanest city in Africa, President Akufo-Addo said the sanitation initiatives will begin in the heart of Government business, which encompasses the Presidency, Parliament House, the Ministries, and the Courts.

“…we shall take special care of the airport, major hotels and shopping malls. Residential areas and Zongos, the Central Business District, including the inner city periphery, markets and lorry parks, university campuses, schools and hospitals, and beaches and public places of entertainment and tourist centres are all going to elicit special attention.”

Sanitation marshals

Aside from the brigade, President Akufo-Addo announced that all government departments and agencies will be assigned two officers, to be designated as Sanitation Marshals and Deputy Marshals.

These officers are to ensure the compliance to sanitation by-laws with regard to sanitation in their respective offices.

President Akufo-Addo also served notice that Ministers and other directors of government agencies will be held accountable for any lapses in the compliance of these directives.

“… The heads of departments have one week within which to identify and assign these officers. The Environmental Health and Sanitation Directorate must take steps to train these appointed officers on their new roles within one month of their appointment.”

Accra will be cleanest city after my tenure – Nana Addo

President Akufo-Addo has promised to make Accra the cleanest city in Africa by the end of his tenure in office, a promise many are expecting him to deliver on.

According to him, government has a plan to rid the city of filth and further pledged his commitment to ensuring the proper management of waste in the capital.

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By: Delali Adogla-Bessa/citifmonine.com/Ghana

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