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The Ministry of Sanitation and Water Resources has initiated a nationwide effort to evacuate refuse dumps, aiming to prevent potential outbreaks of communicable diseases in rural areas, cities, and other urban centers.
The sector minister, Dr. Freda Prempeh, disclosed that the Ministry has partnered with Zoomlion Ghana Limited, a private waste management and sanitation company, for this undertaking.
As part of this effort, the Ministry plans to strategically place an adequate number of waste bins and refuse containers across the country, promoting proper waste disposal and encouraging sound sanitation practices for environmental cleanliness.
Dr. Prempeh, who also serves as the Member of Parliament (MP) for Tano North Constituency, shared this information during her engagement with the media after inspecting refuse dump evacuation operations in various locations, including Bourkrukruwa, Terchire, Nsesreso, and Jerusalem within the Tano North Municipality of the Ahafo Region.
She expressed concern about the presence of long-standing refuse dumps, some dating back centuries, in rural communities and urban areas.
These dumps not only pose a health risk by serving as breeding grounds for mosquitoes, rodents, reptiles, and other dangerous animals but also contribute to poor sanitation practices. Some of these sites have even been used as open defecation areas.
Dr. Prempeh stressed the importance of proper waste management and environmental cleanliness as shared and collective responsibilities. She appealed to the public to support the Ministry by refraining from indiscriminate dumping of refuse and plastic waste materials and avoiding littering.
The Minister emphasized that waste segregation and recycling of plastic materials have been prioritized.
Households are encouraged to segregate their waste, and those who fail to do so before disposing of waste into containers and bins may face additional fees.
Acting Director of Environmental Health and Sanitation at the Ministry, Mr. Sampson Akwettey, highlighted the significant financial resources allocated for waste management annually and called on everyone to contribute to maintaining a clean environment.
Source: Independent Ghana
