The Ministry of Sanitation and Water Resources has initiated the deployment of sanitation guards across the country to address the issue of indiscriminate plastic waste and refuse disposal.
Initially, these sanitation guards have been stationed in major cities and urban centers, including Kumasi, Sekondi-Takoradi, and Tamale.
Individuals caught littering or improperly disposing of plastic waste and polythene bags will be required to pick up their trash, pay an on-the-spot fine, or face prosecution.
The Minister of the sector, Dr. Freda Prempeh, announced these measures during her media interaction after inspecting the evacuation of 10 refuse dumps in communities within the Tano North Municipality of the Ahafo Region.
The Ministry is collaborating with Zoomlion Ghana Limited, a private waste management and sanitation company, to clear longstanding refuse dumps from these communities.
The initiative includes constructing toilet facilities in underserved areas to improve sanitation.
Dr. Prempeh, also the Member of Parliament for Tano North, highlighted the importance of promoting environmental cleanliness to control the spread of communicable diseases.
She expressed concern about the negative attitude of some Ghanaians toward environmental protection and hoped that this exercise would not only maintain a clean environment but also alter these behaviors.
The Ministry is actively working on waste segregation and recycling efforts. The public is encouraged to separate plastic and other waste materials. Cooperation from the public is sought to support these initiatives and redirect government expenditure on waste management to other development projects.
Mr. Sampson Akwettey, Acting Director of Environmental Health and Sanitation at the Ministry, emphasized the necessity of addressing poor sanitation practices to combat the outbreak of communicable diseases like cholera and typhoid. He cautioned against haphazard waste disposal.
The Ahafo Regional Coordinator of Zoomlion, Mr. Edward Ziddah, revealed that the company is working on clearing 33 refuse dumps across the entire region.
Residents, like Mrs. Clara Adu Sarpong in Nsesreso, expressed their gratitude for the evacuation of refuse dumps.
The removal of these dumps, which used to attract rodents and mosquitoes, is seen as a positive step in improving the community’s sanitary conditions.