National Sanitation Day : A top-down strategy at birth

The National Sanitation Day (NSD) concept is an initiative that was launched as part of measures to get our environments clean to prevent the repetition of the cholera epidemic that took over this nation in 2014. 

This initiative received much hype at birth; however, the story is no longer the same. This is because the whole initiative was mooted at the national level and there hasn’t been a link to ensure that the metropolitan, municipal and district assemblies (MMDAs) lead the way.

 The MMDAs are supposed to lead the way in issues that concern sanitation. The genesis of the filth that has engulfed our cities and towns is a consequence of negligence of duty and responsibility by the MMDAs.

 The Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development must begin to get its acts together and ensure that the MMDAs and the Environmental Health Directorate don’t slack in performing a duty that they have been mandated to undertake.

Sanitation is a crucial matter. It is one of the development issues that has been specified in the Sustainable Development Goals, 2015. 

Sanitation is captured in Goal Six with its accompanied targets, “ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all”. 

The only way to achieve this goal is to mount the needed pressure on MMDAs to achieve this nationally and at the grass-roots level.

The NSD concept is a laudable idea; it is one thing initiating a laudable idea and another ensuring its implementation by the relevant agencies. 

Since its launch, the day – the first Saturday of every month-- has been graced by either the Minister for Local Government and Rural Development or his deputy. 

This trend, since its inception, has not helped its sustainability. The day and its activities revolve around the minister or the deputy, instead of the mayors and chief executives who live in the towns and cities. 

Consequently, in the absence of the minister or the deputy, there is no show – a clear evidence of eye-service. 

It’s high time the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development took a second look at the initiative, and compelled the mayors and chief executives to deliver. 

­This is an initiative that must not die because of the ineptitude of mayors and chief executives of the MMDAs. This is a national matter and must be taken on with all the seriousness that it deserves. 

Sanitation is a development issue; it must attract all the needed attention. Mayors, chief executives and the environmental health directorate must be up and doing to ensure a clean Ghana.

(kw.ameblege@hotmail.com/kwameselom12@gmail.com)