‘Accra will become Africa’s city in 2020’ – Sanitation Minister

The Ministry of Sanitation and Water Resources is hopeful that, President’s Akufo Addo’s dream of making the national capital, Accra, the cleanest city in Africa by 2020 will be achieved.

President Akufo-Addo in April 2017 promised to make Accra the cleanest city in Africa by the end of his first term.

The ambitious plan comes in the face of worsening sanitation crisis in the nation’s capital, Accra, with city authorities struggling to deal with the situation.

But, more than a year after the announcement, many have doubted the President’s vision since nothing significant has been undertaken to rid the city of its heavy filth.

Speaking on the Citi Breakfast Show on Tuesday however, sector minister, Cecelia Abena Dapaah insisted that despite the current challenges, enough preparatory works are on course.

Madam Dapaah affirmed that the president’s dream of transforming the city will be realized by the year 2020, adding that the determination of the President and the citizenry is the

“It can, why not? The president is determined, and I am sure we are all determined. For instance, the ministry will have to provide leadership, monitoring, evaluating and assessing in ensuring that everything is provided for the assembly and the contractors to work effectively.

Media collaboration key in the fight

Cecelia Daapah further mentioned that it will be imperative for the media to assist in the fight against the unsanitary condition in the Capital.

She indicated her willingness to collaborate with the media to ensure that the vision materializes.

“The media is our partner to propagate the campaign and even offer proper solutions and suggestions. I will be meeting the press and we will think through the measures that we have…very soon I will roll out a programme for the media.”

Making Accra cleanest city an aspiration, not promise – Kwesi Jonah

A Senior Research Fellow at the Institute of Democratic Governance (IDEG), Kwesi Jonah has suggested a reassessment of President Nana Akufo-Addo’s ambitious plan to make Accra the cleanest city in Africa.

He is of the view that this declaration was more of an aspiration than a promise that was deliverable within four years.

“When you say that you want Accra to be the cleanest, it is a standard; it is an aspiration… That is not to say you will be able to get to where Rwanda is [regarding sanitation]. On the political platform, politicians say all kinds of things that they do not mean literally”.

Agenda to make Accra Africa’s cleanest city’ on course – AMA boss

The Metropolitan Chief Executive of Accra, Mohammed Adjei Sowah, has said that the vision of the President to make Accra the cleanest city by the end of 2020 is on track.

He said the achievement would require the collective effort of citizens and all stakeholders.

“It is a vision which is achievable and doable when collectively we commit to it. It is the responsibility of all of us. …Once we have bought into the vision of the president and all of us are working towards it, we could possibly achieve it probably even before the end of the first term of the president, and I believe that we are doing so well.”

Sanitation situation in Accra

Accra is still battling with wanton plastic waste, unreliable waste disposal systems and the general absence of toilet facilities, which breeds open defecation.

President Akufo-Addo introduced the Sanitation and Water Resources Ministry portfolio and pledged to make Accra the cleanest city in Africa by the end of his term.

The ministry has so far failed to make any significant strides towards this goal.

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By: Nii Larte Lartey/citinewsroom.com/Ghana

 

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