The Vice President, Prof. Naana Jane Opoku Agyemang has urged Ghanaians to take greater responsibility for environmental sanitation, stressing that many of the flooding challenges confronting communities are worsened by human activities.
Speaking during the National Clean-Up Exercise at Nungua on Friday, the Vice President thanked residents, volunteers and stakeholders for turning out in large numbers to support the initiative, describing the exercise as a demonstration of unity and shared responsibility.
“We are gathered here today because something has gone wrong, and in many instances, some of the challenges we face are issues that we have contributed to ourselves,” the Vice President stated.
While acknowledging that natural events such as heavy rainfall are unavoidable, the Vice President noted that indiscriminate disposal of waste into drains and waterways often aggravates flooding and places innocent families at risk.
The Vice President explained that blocked drains prevent the free flow of water, causing floods that sometimes affect people who played no role in creating the problem.
Describing the exercise as a wake-up call, the Vice President said Ghanaians already know the correct sanitation practices and should focus on taking responsibility rather than waiting to be reminded.
“We simply need to take responsibility and do what is right,” the Vice President said, urging citizens to work together to protect their communities and the country.
The Vice President also commended all participants for demonstrating love, care and solidarity through their involvement in the clean-up campaign.
Emphasising the importance of preventive action, the Vice President observed that drainage systems should ideally be cleared before the onset of the rainy season, particularly during March and April, to minimise the impact of heavy rains.
Although acknowledging that significant damage had already occurred in some communities, the Vice President expressed optimism that the lessons learned would encourage better environmental practices in the future.
The Vice President called on all Ghanaians to remain committed to proper sanitation and timely action to help build cleaner, safer and more resilient communities across the country.
Story: Patrick Asford Boadu
