Operation Clean Your Frontage Launched
Story by: Ishmael Barfi-Independence Quare
For the realization of his pledge to make the capital city, Accra, the cleanest in Africa, the President of the Republic, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, has reiterated his commitment to that course.
However, he noted that over the years, the challenges had to do with logistics, bye-laws enforcement and attitudinal change of the citizenry.
He was hopeful that this campaign will change the mindset of Ghanaians and also help enforce the sanitation bye-laws as collectively, government, other stakeholders and the citizens will contribute to make Accra, Ghana to work again.
Operation Clean Your Frontage Launched
“This Campaign is a good step in achieving the vision of making Accra the cleanest city in Africa,” he underscored.
President Akufo-Addo commended stakeholders in the sanitation sector, especially the collaborating ministries, political parties as well as the Greater Accra Parliamentary Select Committee and the contribution of Zoomlion Ghana Limited.
The Greater Accra Regional Minister, Henry Quartey, explained that the exercise will train 3,500 youth as task force under the City Response Team to help polish the agenda of “Operation Clean your Frontage”.
Greater Accra Regional Minister, Henry Quartey
To ensure the effectiveness of the campaign, he hinted that dustbins will be provided from Ayi Menssh down to Ridge roundabout and other major roads within Accra to ensure that these towns are clean.
He used the chance to call on all and sundry to get involved in the campaign by keeping their frontages and surroundings clean.
Cross Section of Traditional Leaders at the Launch
In a solidarity message from the Minister for Local Government, Decentralisation and Rural Development, Mr Daniel Botwe, said it was imperative that all the 29 Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) in the region stand up to the task of ensuring cleanliness on their frontages to give the city a new facelift that will be befitting of a national capital.
The minister therefore used the opportunity to encourage all residents in the region to abide by the sanitation bye-laws and also get involved in cleaning their immediate facades to make the exercise work.
On his part, the Executive Chairman of Jospong Group of Companies, Dr Joseph Siaw Agyepong, expressed his excitement over the launch of the “Clean Your Frontage” campaign which will make the citizenry responsible for cleaning their surroundings.
Dr. Joseph Siaw Agyepong, Executive Chairman, Jospong Group of Companies
He said any initiative aimed at getting a national buy-in for cleaning communities must start from home as it is often said: “Charity begins at home.”
Since the beginning of its operations in 2006, Dr Siaw Agyepong explained that his company, Zoomlion Ghana Limited, has been making tireless efforts at educating the public as well several initiatives to get people take responsibility for their health and wellbeing through safe and sound environmental practices.
“After all these years, the company has discovered that attitudinal change and enforcement of bye-laws are the two key challenges inhibiting a sustainable clean and healthy environment,” he indicated.
“Operation Clean Your Frontage” Launched
Touching on the contributions of Zoomlion towards the “Accra Must Work” campaign, he stated that, Zoomlion was making available logistics and equipment by providing about 85 compactors and 1,000 tricycles.
He hinted that the company has come out with a new tricycle model and system of operation that will unionise and assist the informal waste collection sector to contribute to the waste management processes in a more formal and organised manner to improve waste collection in slums and poorly planned areas.
“Let’s Make Greater Accra Work”, is a transformational agenda that seeks to mobilise and empower all urban actors to practically and sustainably respond to the region’s waste management and sanitation challenges.
“Operation Clean Your Frontage” Launched
The agenda was formulated by the Greater Accra Regional Coordinating Council under the leadership of Mr Henry Quartey, the Greater Accra Regional Minister, in response to His Excellency the President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo’s vision of making Accra the cleanest city in Africa.
One of the interventions under the agenda “Let’s Make Greater Accra Work” is Operation Clean Your Frontage” campaign which would make it mandatory for property owners of residential, private and public institutions and the citizenry to clean and green their frontages and all open spaces around their properties.
Some of the strategic interventions under the “Operation Clean your Frontage” campaign includes bye-laws on cleaning of the frontage of premises formulated and gazetted, Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) deployment of systematic approach to sensitize residents, corporate organizations and community members on their roles and responsibilities in waste Management.
“Operation Clean Your Frontage” Launched
In addition, assemblies would create extensive awareness on sanitation and cleaning bye-laws and commit to enforcing the bye-laws, deployment of City Response Team, evacuation of accumulated refuse at sanitary sites and other locations, transfer stations in MMDAs as well as daily sweeping of streets, curbs, walkways, and open spaces among others.
Meanwhile, the expected short-term and long-term out some of these initiatives will be first and foremost, cleaner and more hygienic environments, reducing pest infestations, protecting the environment and the health of the citizenry not forgetting clean air and clean streets and walkways.
“Operation Clean Your Frontage” campaign is therefore a clarion call on all citizens to appreciate that, keeping their environment clean and green is one of the prerequisites for leading a healthy and happy life.
Source: www.thenewindependentonline.com
