For many Ghanaians, keeping Ghana clean is the job of some group of people, especially the Sanitation officers at the various district and municipal assemblies, and so wouldn’t come as a surprise to see people littering their environments indiscriminately.
Better urban sanitation unquestionably contributes to environmental protection, through a reduction in pollution of soils, waterways, and groundwater.
It also helps to mitigate the adverse impacts of flooding exacerbated by climate change. The economic benefits of improved sanitation include lower health system costs, fewer days lost at work or school through illness or through caring for an ill relative, and convenient time savings (time not spent queuing at shared sanitation facilities or walking for open defecation).
Environmental Health Officers at the Bolgatanga Municipal Assembly in an interaction with A1radioonline.com revealed that they are putting up their possible best as professionals, to put the municipality and the Upper East Region at large on the map in terms of good environmental health and sanitation.
The sanitation officers hold a strong view that a good environment is key in the development of every community and cities, unfortunately, the actions of many residents in the Bolgatanga Municipality are causing the retardation of some progress made in keeping the environment clean.
Akoto Enyonam Charity, an Environmental Health Officer at the Bolgatanga Municipal Office, lamented over the lackadaisical attitude of some parents who have refused to adhere to simple sanitation practices despite frequent sensitization.
“… they will still sit at home and send children to throw waste at the dumping sites, knowing very well that these children cannot do it the right way and might even cause problems, since the waste containers are usually bigger and most often have fire in them.” She said.
Evans Bournaa, the Municipal Environmental Health Officer added that although many residents have been sanctioned for various offenses and charged varying amounts as punishment for their offenses, there are still people littering.
Mr. Bournaa said, he and his officers are working tirelessly to make the municipality one of the cleanest cities in the country and wants the public to change their attitude towards the environment for a healthier life.
According to him, the environmental health and sanitation unit in the Upper East Region was given a pat on the shoulder at the 2020 review meeting by the Regional Coordinating Council, for good work done in the year 2020.
Mr. Bounaa called for more logistics and additional staff to cover every corner of the Bolgatanga Municipality.
Source: A1Radioonline.com|101.1MHz|Seidu Akurugu|Ghana
