Christian Council, gov’t to partner on environmental sanitation


The Christian Council of Ghana (CCG) and the Ministry of Local Government & Rural Development have agreed to work as partners to improve environmental sanitation in the country.

The partnership, which is in line with ongoing national efforts towards environmental sanitation, will enable the Ministry to work closely with the CCG through its various platforms across the country to drive behavioral change among Ghanaians towards the environment.

This partnership, was discussed when the Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Mr. Julius Debrah led a delegation from the Ministry to pay a working visit to the leadership of the Council at its  Secretariat in Accra last Friday. Members of his delegation were Nii Amasah Namoale, MP for Dade-Kotopon Constituency in the Greater Accra Region and a member of the Parliamentary Select Committee on Local Government and the Chief Director of the Ministry.

During their discussions, Mr. Debrah noted that, “the Ministry recognizes Faith-Based Organizations such as the CCG as a strong ally in government’s efforts towards environmental sanitation in the country.”

He added that, the CCG as a credible and respected organization in the country with member churches at the local levels can inspire attitudinal change in the lifestyle of many Ghanaians through its various programmes.

According to him, the Ministry has instituted the National Sanitation Day, which will be held the first Saturday of every ensuing month to encourage Ghanaians across the country to use the early hours of that day to clean their environment.

He, therefore, noted that, partnering with the CCG will facilitate the success of this programme which will help improve our environment and personal hygiene.

On his part, the General Secretary of the CCG, Rev. Dr. Kwabena Opuni-Frimpong assured the Minister of the Council’s commitment to partner with the Ministry on national efforts at enhancing sanitation and to halt the effects of poor sanitation such as cholera which has now become a pandemic in the country.

Rev. Opuni-Frimpong said, the Council will be actively involved in every effort at educating the citizenry on personal hygiene and also offer alternative proposals that can be adopted to make Ghana a nation with an improved sanitation.

He further noted that, the Council will continue to support every government, irrespective of the party that forms the government, to succeed and that will include commending and criticizing constructively when the need be.

According to the GS, the membership of the Council cuts across all political divides and it is not possible for the Council to belong or do the bidding of any political party in the country.

“I want to assure you of our commitment to this national course of having a clean Ghana. We will support you and the government to ensure that our country has one of the most improved sanitation in Africa,” he emphasized.

Rev. Opuni-Frimpong further stated that, the Council also has Regional and District CCG in all the 10 Regions of Ghana, adding that, the Minister encourages the various Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) and the Regional Ministers to contact the CCG representatives within their domain and work closely with them on developmental issues.

The Vice Chairman of the Council, Rev. Fr. Kwame Labi commended the Minister for his efforts towards the environment and for considering CCG as a strong partner at improving the environment.

Rev. Ernest Adu-Gyamfi, an Executive Member of the Council and the Executive President of the Ghana Baptist Convention asked the Ministry to focus on waste separation for recycling. He continued that, the country can generate millions of Ghanaian Cedis from waste when they are properly separated and recycled.

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