Concerns have been raised over the state of sanitation in parts of Accra just days after the National Sanitation Day clean-up exercise, with calls for increased provision of refuse bins and stronger enforcement of sanitation laws.
President John Dramani Mahama declared Friday, July 10, and Saturday, July 11, as national clean-up days, encouraging citizens across the country to participate in efforts to improve environmental cleanliness.
The exercise attracted participation from many Ghanaians and was widely regarded as a successful initiative.
However, a visit to some parts of Accra, particularly the Circle area, three days after the exercise revealed a return of litter in several locations.
A member of the Asanteman Anti-Pollution Coalition (A.A.P.C.) who observed the situation expressed disappointment, noting that refuse had again begun accumulating in public spaces.
The development has renewed calls for government and local authorities to provide more waste disposal facilities across the country.
The sanitation advocate argued that the shortage of refuse containers in busy areas may be contributing to improper disposal of waste, urging authorities to install more bins along streets, transport terminals and other high-traffic locations.
According to him, the proposal of placing refuse bins at convenient distances would encourage citizens to properly dispose of items such as sachet, wrappers, plastic bottles, food waste and other litter.
The call also included the establishment of a stronger monitoring system through the recruitment of sanitation officers or city guards to supervise public spaces, encourage proper waste disposal and discourage littering.
The advocate stressed that strict enforcement of sanitation laws should follow the provision of adequate waste management facilities to ensure fairness and effectiveness.
The move, he said, would prevent situations where citizens are penalised for littering in areas where proper waste disposal options are unavailable.
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