Poor Sanitation Putting Dent on Ghana’s Global Reputation – Mrs. Opoku

The Country Leader of Let’s Do It Ghana, an environmental organisation, has said the growing poor sanitation situation is cancelling out Ghana’s global reputation as a conducive and attractive country.

According to Mrs. Kate Opoku, the endemic poor environmental conditions in Ghana is putting a dent on the country’s international accolades “as the gateway and cradle of democracy in Africa”.

Mrs. Opoku expressed this concern at the official launch of the World Cleanup Day 2018 in Ghana, held at the Norwegian Ambassador’s residence in Accra.

The Norwegian Ambassador to Ghana, H. E. Gunnar Holm officially launched the World Cleanup Day 2018 in Ghana. The Embassy is one of the partners of Let’s Do It Ghana on the World Cleanup Day.

As part of frantic measures to combat global sanitation challenges, Let’s Do It World, an international movement tackling environmental and social problems related to mismanaged solid waste, has declared every 15^th September as a World Cleanup Day.

The 2018 edition which falls on Saturday, will see 150 countries, including Ghana joining this extraordinary action of raising awareness about good sanitation and cleaning their respective countries using citizens.

In Ghana, Let’s Do It Ghana is leading the World Cleanup Day 2018, which has the ambitious goal of cleaning the world in one day.

Mrs. Opoku said in preparation towards this decisive action of promoting global cleanliness, Let’s Do It Ghana had successfully introduced a World Cleanup Mobile App to map out major trash points across the country.

“The mapping of trash points will help provide extensive and reliable national data on waste in Ghana,” she added.

The Country Leader also indicated that Let’s Do It Ghana had successfully mobilised thousands of volunteers across the 10 regions of Ghana for the cleanup campaign. She explained that the organisation’s regional coordinators were ready to guide volunteers and facilitate the cleanup exercise in their respective regions.

Mrs. Opoku further stressed that while the cleanup campaign was important to improve sanitation, her organisation was equally paying critical attention to heightening awareness on effective waste management and good sanitation practices among Ghanaians.

This she said “will help promote sustained positive behavior change towards effective waste management and good sanitation practices in Ghana”.

Mrs. Opoku acknowledged the tremendous contributions and support of sponsors and partners towards the World Cleanup campaign, and called on all Ghanaians to join the cleanup exercise on 15^th September to help improve sanitation in the country.