A Pathologist with the University of Ghana Medical School, Prof. Kofi Agyeman Badu Akosa has bemoaned the situation where Ghanaians obey Sanitation Regulations while abroad, but flout same laws in Ghana. This he said is because enforcement of sanitation laws in the country has been ineffective.
He is of the view the enforcement of the law in Ghana is the only way to achieve the attitudinal change towards sanitation that President Akufo-Addo has called for.
Prof. Akosa said this when he interacted with students in Accra as part of the citizenship Week Celebrations organised by the NCCE.
Every year the NCCE dedicate a week between May and June to educate Ghanaians particularly pupils on matters of national interest.
The focus for this year is on sanitation and the need for proper management of plastic waste.
Prof. Kofi Akosa who was a former Director General of the Ghana Health Service is one of the personalities for the citizenship week, engaged pupils of Nima 2 Basic School on how they can keep their surroundings clean.
Prof. Kofi Akosa told Radio Ghana that the enforcement of sanitation bye-laws was key to tackling the poor sanitation issue.
“When Ghanaians travel (abroad), nobody schools them on a different attitude…even the law enforcement agencies does not make life easy for you, if you choose to be a law abiding citizen. So until we are able to ensure the enforcement of the sanitation laws, people will get away with murder”
Chairperson of the NCCE, Josephine Nkrumah said the NCCE focused on pupils in Basic Schools, to get them to avoid practices that affect the environment.
“There is a global movement towards changing the lifestyles of people in relation to plastic waste and that is why we want our children to come on board and become the change agents when it comes to plastic waste”.
This year the NCCE intends to reach ten thousand schools with its campaign dubbed ” a clean Ghana, our responsibility”
Story by Nathaniel Nartey.
