Government is set to launch a National Sanitation Brigade to be in charge of bringing offenders of sanitation laws to book.
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo said this while delivering his third State of the Nations Address Thursday where he noted that government is poised to put an end to the sanitation menace in the country.
According to the President, persons who litter around and violate laws on sanitation will be arrested and punished by law.
“In 2019, apart from continuing with educating and sensitizing people, we intend to use the bye-laws to enforce cleanliness. The Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Sanitation are working together to try sanitation offences.
“Persons who litter would be tried and punished, and so would those who steal litter bins from our streets,” President Akufo-Addo stated.
The arrest and prosecution, he said, would be carried out by the yet to be launched sanitation brigade.
“We are launching a National Sanitation Brigade to help us carry this out, and, through this vehicle, we will not only keep our towns and cities clean, but will also provide jobs for our young people.”
The President said although Ghana has gained some great strides in fighting poor sanitation, there is still more to be done.
He noted that Ghana has witnessed an increase in the coverage of solid waste management, from 16.6% to 53%, with some 35,862 household toilets built, as opposed to 1,698 in 2016.
President Akufo-Addo further emphasized government’s resolve in making Accra the cleanest city in the sub region.
There are plans to begin the construction of a state-of-the-art recycling facility in April at Agbobgloshie in Accra.
He also said government is working towards partnering investors to find ways through which plastic waste can be put to good use, while ridding the streets off them.
“Currently, extensive discussions are being concluded with investors on the most sustainable options available to rid Ghana of this plastic filth menace.”
The President added that a vibrant recycling industry in Ghana could recover nearly one million tonnes of waste plastics from the environment and landfills annually.
This he said could be recycled into basic-need products valued at GH¢2 billion per year, creating many jobs across the economy.
By Irene Amesimeku| 3news.com| Ghana