Massive clean up exercise in Accra

Accra, Nov.1, GNA- The Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA), the Ministry of Local Government and the Regional Co-ordinating Council (RCC), on Saturday organized a clean-up exercise dubbed, "Filth is an enemy," in the city of Accra.

The clean-up exercise, which was done by workers, traders and the AMA special task force took place mainly at the James Town Beach, Abosokia, Achimota, Alajo, Accra central Market (Makola) and other suburbs in Accra with the aim of ridding the city of filth and maintaining cleanliness.

Mr. Kojo Adjei Darko, Minister of Local Government and Rural development advised ice water sellers and other traders, who sell by the roadsides to always make sure that they carry polythene bags that could be used to collect the water sachet and other plastics and put then in the nearest dust bin.

He said a lot of the country's resources, instead of being used to develop schools and other public institutions, are used to make the city clean because a lot of people refuse to be educated on sanitation. "If we use all our resources for the collection of rubbish how can we go ahead in development," he asked.

Mr. Adjei Darko mentioned that the government is very concerned about keeping the city clean and maintaining it and said people play an active part to help keep the city clean and should not blame AMA for filth in the city.

He said the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development is bringing in 150 trucks that would be able to evacuate rubbish from the streets and each sub-metro would have three of such trucks.

" The trucks have a facility called the roll-on, roll-off skip loading, capable of collecting such plastic waste".

Mr. Solomon Offei Darko, AMA Chief Executive reiterated the need for ice water sellers to get containers to collect back the water sachets bought from them.

He urged passengers, who buy things along the streets to drop the rubbish in the vehicles, instead of dropping them on the streets. He said the AMA is forming a sanitation committee in every area to be responsible in keeping the area clean, saying, "three of such committees have already been inaugurated and we hope to inaugurate more of such committees".

An issue of concern, which was raised, at most of the centres was the absence of rubbish containers on the streets and at the market places.

Sheikh I. C. Quaye, Greater Accra Regional Minister, said on the whole there has been a good job done and there is the need to maintain a clean environment always.

He said more of such clean-up exercises would be organized regularly to ensure that Accra is clean.

" It is only when we keep our environments clean that we can be healthy and be able to work," he held.

He promised that a lot more of rubbish containers would be placed at vantage points in the city to help keep the city clean.