Praxis Africa, a non-governmental organisation, in collaboration with Jekora Ventures, a waste management company, last Saturday organised a clean-up exercise to clean three sites in the Osu Klotey Sub-Metro of Accra.
The sites span the Parliament House, Osu Cemetery and environs of the Osu Castle.
The Managing Director of the Jekora Ventures, Emmanuel Nartey-Tokoli, speaking to Goldstreet Business said the Osu Castle area has, for some time, become difficult to clean due to the drainage being choked with garbage.
‘’The garbage is created by individuals from the houses with poor attitude towards sanitation; there is a drain with water flowing into which they throw their rubbish.’’
‘’What will curtail this, is for the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) to implement its by-laws to ensure compliance and enforcement but we understand that there are some political undertones here which is making it quite difficult,’’ he stressed.
He indicated that his outfit has been mandated by the AMA to clean some 23,000 households in the Osu Klotey sub-metro.
Nartey-Tokoli recommended community integration and underscored the need to nationally expand public sensitization, awareness creation and education on good sanitation practices in all communities.
‘’We need to all understand that good sanitation is for the good of the people and that is where the education becomes very important,’’ he added.
Nartey-Tokoli said his outfit, as a private entity, would continue to dialogue with the AMA so that the obligations of all key stakeholders can meet the needs of the people
Jekora Ventures during the clean-up exercise provided some four pieces of waste trucks, safety boots, nose masks, gloves and two big combustion trucks to aid in the exercise.
Mr Tony Mensah Abrampah, Country Director for Praxis Africa on his part said environmental awareness must be prioritized and that community ‘’watchdogs’’ be placed in communities to ensure that waste is well managed.
‘’We need to have volunteers to be monitoring all our communities by placing a dumping point in our communities and detailing at least five people who will be paid to monitor to manage the waste.’’
He urged the Ministry of Sanitation to formulate policies that will allow community ‘’watchdogs’’ in curbing bad sanitation practices.
By Mawuli Y. Ahorlumegah
