By King Amoah, Our editor- in- chief
There was a time when Ghana stood as a beacon of hygiene in Africa.
Under the visionary leadership of the late Dr. Osagyefo Kwame Nkrumah, the nation was meticulously maintained, earning global acclaim for its cleanliness.
Kumasi in the Ashanti region particular was christened as the Garden City, which is a testament to its aesthetic beauty and proper environmental management.
Today, however, that legacy has eroded leaving the nation to grapple with the unenviable reputation of being among the filthiest countries on the continent.
The Erosion of a Legacy:
The current state of affairs is not merely a failure of the citizenry but it is rather a direct reflection of systemic environmental mismanagement by successive governments.
While the creation of the Ministry of Sanitation and Water Resources was a step in the right direction, it has largely remained as a bureaucratic shell.
The government allegedly continues to pay lip service to sanitation demands while neglecting the practical, grassroots interventions required to keep the nation healthy.
Scriptural teachings emphasize that “cleanliness is next to godliness,” yet our administrators have ignored this fundamental principle and allowing our drainage systems, streets and water bodies to become receptacles for waste.
The Nkrumah Model: Reinstating the Sanitation Inspectors:
In the First Republic, cleanliness was enforced through the presence of roaming sanitation inspectors.
These officers were the backbone of public health, moving through communities to ensure compliance, educating the public and prosecuting offenders.
In that era the nation experienced a lower incidence of preventable diseases because environmental hygiene was treated with the severity it deserved.
In contrast our current Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) are failing in their oversight.
Reports indicate that many individuals employed in the sanitation roles are often found idling in offices and—some even engaging in gambling and lotteries while the streets they are paid to monitor succumb to filth.
A Double Blow: Neglect and Galamsey:
It is baffling that while the state turns a blind eye to the mounting garbage in our cities, it simultaneously engages in what many describe it as a “masquerade of ignorance” regarding environmental destruction.
The uncontrolled menace of galamsey (illegal mining) continue to ravage our water bodies and forests, exacerbating the country’s ecological crisis.
By prioritizing short term gains over long term environmental sustainability, the state has left the populace vulnerable to climate related disasters.
The Public Outcry:
The frustration felt by the average Ghanaian is palpable.
From the capital city to the rural fringes, the message is clear: the government must act.
In Accra, Paul Asumadu links the persistent, devastating floods to the total failure of environmental management.
He argues that without the presence of robust sanitation authorities to penalize offenders the culture of indiscriminate dumping will never cease.
In Samereboi, a flood victim Gloria Ampong echoes this sentiment, noting that the return of sanitation officers is the only concrete solution that would curb the yearly cycle of flood related destruction.
In Takoradi, George Riverson believes that Ghana can overcome these challenges but warns that the state will continue to drain its coffers on disaster relief and flood mitigation if it refuses to enforce proper environmental administration.
The Way Forward:
As the environmental situation reaches a tipping point, the government is urged to revisit the past.
Hiring specialized and empowered sanitation officers is not an antiquated idea; it is a modern necessity.
To reverse the current trend the government must:
Revitalize Enforcement: Reintroduce the “Sanitation Police” or roving inspectors with the legal mandate to prosecute environmental offenders.
Hold MMDAs Accountable: Devolve power to the local level while strictly monitoring the output of sanitation departments to ensure that they are on the field but not in betting parlors.
Holistic Environmental Policy: Integrate sanitation strategies with anti galamsey efforts to protect both the urban landscape and our natural resources.
Ghana’s environment is its most valuable asset. If we do not act today to restore our sanitation standards, we risk leaving a legacy of pollution, disaster and disease for the future generations. The time to transition from talk to action is now.
