Performance of Ministry of Sanitation and Water Resources

It is often said that a journey of a thousand miles begins with only one step. The above adage one can conveniently argue gave birth to the establishment of the Ministry of Sanitation and Water Resources by the President Nana Akufo- Addo in February last year to give meaning to the collective effort of Ghanaians to rid the country of filth. The establishment of the Ministry of Sanitation and Water Resources to many Ghanaians was not surprising looking at the level of filth in the country.

Specifically the Ministry of Sanitation and Water Resources is to formulate comprehensive national policies in the area of sanitation and water sub sectors for effective performance and delivery to Ghanaians. Almost one year down the line since its establishment, it is important to take a step back and see how far the Ministry has gone, its prospects and challenges and the way forward. It must however be acknowledged that as a new Ministry it is still in the process of establishing the various structures to enhance its delivery.

Undoubtedly however, one of the high points of the Ministry was the launch of the National Sanitation Campaign in November last year which was launched by the President. The launch of the National Sanitation Campaign was to restate the ideals of the national Sanitation day observed on the first Saturday of each month and to emphasize the fact that sanitation is an everyday issue. It was also a direct response to the declaration of the President to make Accra the neatest and cleanest city in Africa by the year 2020. It is important to state that the Ministry is steadfastly implementing the directives the President announced during launch.

These include the establishment of the National Sanitation Authority, the National Sanitation Fund, the National Sanitation Brigade and the establishment of the sanitation marshals among others. The one house, one toilet project is also vigorously being pursued by the Ministry through the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA). The Ministry has also successfully evacuated the refuse at the dumpsite at Mallam paving the way for the effective use of the land for the benefit of the community. Evacuations of refuse at other dump sites have also reached various levels of completion. Another notable programme of the Ministry is the Comprehensive Integrated Urban Environment Sanitation Master Plan. All the intervention programmes being pursued by the Ministry are in pursuant to the attainment of the sustainable development goal target six.

There is no doubt that within the past one year, the Ministry has also gone through its fair share of challenges. Issues of institutional re-alignment, office accommodation, logistics, are but a few of the challenges. There is also no doubt about the fact that the sanitation situation in some of our towns and cities is not the best. But it is equally wrong to blame the Ministry and assume it is doing nothing to turn things round to achieve the best result.

The fact is that it is our individual and collective action and inaction with regards to refuse disposal and waste management that has created the unfortunate situation the country finds itself. If just for a period of one month or even less Ghanaians desist from open defecation, throwing rubbish about indiscriminately and dispose of our rubbish appropriately, change our attitude and behaviours towards the environment, we would have the neatest and cleanest environment we can dream of.

The yearly expenditure of $290 million on sanitation related issues would be channeled to more productive use to enhance the living standards and improve the well-being of all Ghanaians.

BY: NELSON KOFI AKATEY, PRO, MINISTRY OF SANITATION AND WATER RESOURCES.

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