NGO embarks on sanitation campaign in Accra

A sanitation campaign that focuses on sensitising the public to keeping the environment clean has begun.

Spearheaded by a non-governmental organisation (NGO), Change Attitude Ghana (CAG), the campaign, which kicked off in the national capital, was focused on communities with sanitation challenges and was also meant to help the President realise his dream of making Accra the cleanest city in Africa.

So far, clean-up exercises have been carried out in some communities at James Town, Glefe and Chorkor as part of the campaign.

The President of CAG, Mr Ernest Kwesi Boateng, told the Daily Graphic that without the support of the public and organisations, any attempt to rid Accra of filth would be fruitless.

“You cannot address sanitation problem without involving the public. Every attempt to improve the sanitation condition in Accra should be in partnership with the public. That is why we have taken it upon ourselves to lead that campaign,” he said.

He said CAG, which was formed to advocate a change in the attitude of Ghanaians towards work and environment, would use various platforms, including the media, to send the message of cleanliness to the entire Greater Accra Region.

“We have already undertaken some community clean-up exercises and education and we intend to continue until we see the change in attitude among Ghanaians,” Mr Boateng said.

Challenges

Outlining some of the challenges confronting Ghana’s quest to achieve its sanitation goals, Mr Boateng said the lack of consistent education and partnership among some sanitation groups had made it difficult to achieve results.

Mr Boateng also mentioned the politicisation of issues in Ghana as another reason many people had decided not to help improve the country’s sanitation.

He said it would be suicidal for Ghana to allow filth to dent its image, considering it had gained respect in the eyes of the international community.

“This is the time for all of us to join the campaign to improve the sanitation condition not only in Accra but in all parts of the country,” he added.