The Dean of Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) in the Greater Accra Region, John Desmond Sowah, has appealed to government to increase budgetary allocation for sanitation to sustain a clean environment and improve waste management, particularly in the capital region.
He made the call during the handover of cleaning tools and equipment to all Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies (MMDAs) in the Greater Accra Region by the Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs.
Mr. Sowah, who is the Ga West Municipal Chief Executive, emphasized that sanitation challenges in Accra have national implications.
“When Accra is dirty, Ghana is dirty,” he stated, stressing both the symbolic and practical importance of maintaining cleanliness in the capital city.
He acknowledged the government’s efforts to strengthen sanitation delivery through the provision of equipment and the reintroduction of National Sanitation Day.
However, he noted that sustained environmental cleanliness requires consistent funding to support waste collection, enforcement, public education, and maintenance of sanitation infrastructure. According to him, MMDAs are at the frontline of sanitation service delivery and need adequate financial resources to effectively manage the growing demands of rapidly urbanising communities.
Mr. Sowah pointed out that, as the political, economic, and administrative hub of the country, conditions in Greater Accra often shape perceptions of Ghana as a whole. He therefore urged the government and relevant stakeholders to prioritise sanitation investment in the region, noting that improved waste management would enhance public health, boost tourism, attract investors, and improve overall quality of life.
He also called on residents, traditional leaders, religious institutions, the private sector, and civil society organisations to complement government efforts by adopting responsible waste disposal practices and supporting community sanitation initiatives. He stressed that achieving a clean and healthy environment requires collective ownership and behavioural change at all levels of society.
Mr. Sowah further commended the Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs for the handover of sanitation cleaning equipment, describing it as a timely intervention that will strengthen the operational capacity of MMDAs across the region.
He expressed optimism that with increased funding, improved equipment, and sustained stakeholder collaboration, Greater Accra can achieve and maintain a cleaner and healthier environment.
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