AMA organises orientation course for its Sanitation Committee

Members of the Sanitation Standards Implementation Committees (SSICs) of the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA), have received an intensive orientation to step up hygiene in all communities in the metropolis.

It was also to sharpen the committee members’ skills and update their knowledge on issues that borders on proper households waste management practices, creating an enabling environment for collection and disposal of solid waste.

The programme, which was organized jointly by the AMA, Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development and the Environmental Service Providers Association (ESPA), was also to strengthen committee members capacity to campaign on issues like grassroot commitment and participation on standards of sanitation.

Dr Alfred Oko Vanderpuije, Accra Metropolitan Chief Executive of the AMA, said the course was strongly related to the problem s faced by the AMA, including the indiscriminate dumping of refuse into drains, hence the need for the distribution of free waste bins to enhance household waste management practices.

He expressed regret that during the days of the Town Councils the cities were always clean and tasked the committee members not to compromise sanitation standards, adding that: “simply adhere to the committee’s objective to raise environmental consciousness among the people to ensure conducive environment.”

Dr Vanderpuije said because majority of the people have shirked their responsibility of keeping their surroundings clean, “Almost everyone is looking up to Oko Vanderpuije for everything, forgetting that the biggest challenge about environmental sanitation is rested on the people themselves.”

He warned the committee members to ensure no one escapes the standards set to maintain a clean environment, adding that, “make sure no individual escapes from this exercise to ensure effective delivery of service.”

“This structure we are putting in place is to ensure that our eyes will be everywhere in Accra” and called for more commitment from stakeholders to ensure compliance of environmental standards.

The Accra Mayor gave the assurance that government had given its fullest support to make the programme “a living testimony to the memory of those who contributed to its success.”

“The only way the environment could move towards achieving the Millennium Development Goals is to forge ahead in unity and with positive thinking,” adding that; “It will require the cooperation and support of the people to ensure that the Better Ghana Agenda dream becomes a reality.

Dr Joseph Agyepong, President of ESPA cautioned service providers to comply with all directives to ensure effective collection of waste, adding that; “any contractor who would be found wanting will have his contract abrogated.