The Minister for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, Hon. Ahmed Ibrahim, has endorsed the Accra Metropolitan Assembly’s sanitation reporting initiative, which allows members of the public to submit photographs and videos of illegal dumping and other sanitation offences through a dedicated WhatsApp line.
He urged residents to report incidents of refuse being dumped into drains, on roads and at unauthorised locations through the Assembly’s hotline, 0544 914 628, to enable the AMA to respond promptly and take enforcement action against offenders.
The Minister made the call during the commissioning of two new refuse compactor trucks procured by the AMA to strengthen waste collection and improve sanitation services within the Accra metropolis.
He said the reporting platform would help residents to participate directly in efforts to keep the city clean by providing the Assembly with timely information on sanitation infractions and accumulated waste. Read Also: AMA Commissions Two Refuse Compactors to Boost Sanitation
According to him, the introduction of the hotline demonstrated the Assembly’s commitment to combining public participation, enforcement and improved waste-collection capacity to address sanitation challenges in the capital.
He commended the Mayor of Accra, Hon. Michael Kpakpo Allotey, assembly members, directors and staff of the AMA for working together to improve service delivery despite the financial and legal challenges inherited by the current administration.
Describing sanitation as one of the major challenges confronting Accra, the Minister said the Mayor and his team deserved commendation for prioritising the acquisition of waste-management equipment.
The Minister stressed that effective waste management required collaboration between central government, local authorities, private waste-management companies and residents, since neither the public nor private sector could address the challenge alone.
He said several areas that previously formed part of the Accra Metropolitan Assembly had become separate municipalities, but substantial quantities of waste generated in those areas continued to be transported into the central business district.
He explained that the concentration of major commercial centres, particularly Makola, meant that the AMA managed waste generated not only by residents of the metropolis but also by traders, commuters and visitors from other parts of Greater Accra and beyond.
The Minister said the sanitation burden placed on the AMA could therefore not be considered purely municipal and assured the Assembly that the Ministry would explore ways of supporting it. http://dailydemocratnewsonline.com
He further praised the relationship between the Mayor and assembly members, noting that their cooperation had contributed significantly to the progress being recorded by the Assembly.
The Mayor of Accra, Hon. Michael Kpakpo Allotey, expressed appreciation to President John Dramani Mahama for making funds available to the Assembly to implement its sanitation and development programmes.
The Mayor reaffirmed his commitment to action-oriented leadership and assured residents that the Assembly would continue to procure equipment and implement initiatives aimed at making Accra cleaner, safer and more orderly.
