Folks, The environment provides the basic resources for virtually all socio-economic activity. Environmental degradation and the lack of Sanitation in Ghana's urban areas is not only a growing problem which is NOT being addressed by political leaders, but very worrying for our health. The fact of the matter is " IF YOU DONT RESPECT YOUR ENVIRONMENT, YOU DONT DESERVE TO BE RESPECTED" In this stern age , despite all the negative consequences and lack of maintenance, streets gutters and surface drains littered with filth & gabbage, Ghanaian leaders are still encouraging the building of open gutters in our towns and cities. Due to gross lack of management of the environment and waste, residents dispose their waste in open spaces and surface drains. As a result open drains and gutters get blocked and in a lot of cases drains become contaminated with faecal mater. Folks, dont our leaders know that blocked drains, standing pools of water are a contributory factor in the endemic status of Malaria? ( According to the WHO Report 2009 on Ghana, malaria accounts for over 50% of all reported disease at Ghana's hospitals and its the LEADING Cause of death in your dear country! Now why haven't they acted but spend time money and effort obssessing about the SMALL insignificant things? Our hot and humid weather conditions favour accelerated corrosion of organic matter, Decomposing materials attract flies, Flies contaminate food and cooking items, Flies act as vectors for various diseases by transmiting pathogens and affecting people with cholera and diarrhoea and what happens, hundreds of thousands of citizens perish needlessly. WE MUST BAN the construction of open drains & gutters in Ghana's urban areas (towns & Cities) and we expect the political leadership of the country including the president to come out with innovative solutions, and guidance to address this ugliness and health hazard plaguing our citizens. Ghana has lots of well trained qualified Engineers and architects who can produce design standards and specifications for underground drainage with inspection chambers within in weeks if we find the Good Will. Creating a maintenance regime to maintain these drains is not rocket science and would create jobs for our teeming brigade of unemployed youth. BAN THE CONSTRUCTION OF OPEN GUTTERS AND DRAINS IN OUR TOWNS AND CITIES NOW!!! Join the campaign and forward this to your fellow Ghanaians to join the campaign as well because its not only unsightly and ugly it degrades our built environment , action will tremendously improve our well being. Remember IF YOU DONT RESPECT YOUR ENVIROMENT, YOU DONT DESERVE TO BE RESPECTED. FUL STOP>