The Greater Accra Regional Coordinating Council (RCC) has said it collected more than 2,000 metric tonnes of plastic, sand and other forms of debris from various key areas at the recent comprehensive clean-up exercise.
Daniel Nii Kwartei Titus Glover, Minister for the Greater Accra region and chairman of the Council, said the successful removal of waste underscores plans for a comprehensive review to refine strategies and ensure sustained cleanliness in the city.
The minister said this when he convened the first RCC meeting of the year, outlining key priorities aimed at enhancing environmental cleanliness, security and infrastructure within the region.
According to him, the clean-up exercises cost the council a lot of resources, manpower and time, which ought not to have been so.
The minister was of the view that such initiatives and the orientation of people will cause a change of mindset as well as negative attitudes towards the environment.
“Thirty days into my tenure, we initiated a robust clean-up campaign building on previous efforts under the theme: ‘Operation Clean Your Frontage,” noted Minister Glover.
Emphasising collaboration, he cited active engagements with stakeholders, including the Ga Traditional Council and Zoomlion Ghana Limited, leading to the launch of the 2024 Homowo Clean-up exercise in June.
The initiative, commenced on July 2nd within the Accra Metropolitan Assembly, saw substantial participation across critical areas, such as the Central Business District, Circle, Agbogbloshie, Jamestown, Bukum, Chokor, Agbogloshie, CMB, Kwame Nkrumah Circle and the Ministries.
He said each Ga clan will be presenting 30 members in furtherance of promoting cleanliness in Accra.
The Minister expressed concern over encroachments on Ramsar Sites, vital for flood control in the region, saying either the Metropolitan Municipal and District Assemblies Chief Executives are looking at these developments unconcerned or helpless.
He called upon the MMDCEs to enforce development regulations rigorously, safeguarding these ecologically sensitive zones from further degradation.
Moreover, Minister Glover addressed societal challenges, including the recent unauthorised livestock rearing along the Dr. Hilla Limann Highway, underscoring the need for strict enforcement of by-laws to maintain public order.
The meeting also underscored ongoing developmental projects across the region, with Minister Glover, stressing the need for their timely completion amidst preparations for the upcoming elections. He encouraged MMDAs to focus on existing projects to avoid commitments beyond their terms.
Minister Glover announced the imminent distribution of streetlights to MMDAs to combat darkness and bolster security across communities.
This is to restore defunct traffic lights, which were also prioritised to enhance traffic management and safety.
Minister Glover highlighted three critical focus areas for the year, namely Sanitation and Waste management, Rehabilitation of non-functioning Street and traffic lights and the bolstering of Security measures.
These initiatives, he stressed, are pivotal to fostering conducive environment for the wellbeing of Greater Accra’s residents and are in tandem with President Akufo-Addo’s vision of making Accra the cleanest city in Africa.
He said the next stage of the clean-up exercise will be conducted at the various beaches to improve their sanitation conditions.
Regrettably, he noted the importance of beaches in tourism, as a gold mine in other countries and improving their economies, whereas in Ghana no value is placed on the various beaches.
The Minister acknowledged international collaborations aimed at enhancing local economic development, particularly with Chinese and Nigerian representatives.
He indicated that upcoming initiatives in industrial cooperation and cultural exchanges are expected to benefit residents of Greater Accra.
Mr. Glover reaffirmed his commitment to diligent service, urging all stakeholders to sustain momentum in achieving the region’s developmental goals.
The RCC plans to disseminate comprehensive reports through official channels to ensure transparency and accountability for the public.
The Minister reiterated that the MMDCES should complete all projects and refrain from starting new ones.
