Former Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Samuel Ofosu Ampofo, has slammed the Akufo-Addo led-government for launching the National Sanitation Programme at the Banquet Hall of the State House.
President Nana Akufo Addo on Monday, launched a comprehensive National Sanitation Programme to arrest the sanitation predicament of the Republic, promising that it will not be a “nine day wonder”.
The campaign will focus on three thematic areas that will seek to change the attitudes of Ghanaians, the three areas are; Stop Open Urination, Stop Open Defecation and Stop Littering.
He noted that successive governments have tried several sanitation models that have not worked, adding that his initiative is thus a fresh start that will make everyday a Sanitation day in the country.
The President further added that as part of efforts to lead by example he has directed that Sanitation Marshal and a Deputy Marshal be appointed by every government regency and department including the seat of government to oversee compliance of the laws regarding Sanitation in their respective offices.
But commenting on the sanitation programme on Peace FM Tuesday, Hon. Ofosu Ampofo found the venue for the launch inappropriate, saying it would have been best if the programme was held in places such Agbogbloshie and Makola markets or Chorkor where we have clear evidence of the terrible sanitation problem in the capital.
“I have every problem with launching a national sanitation programme at the Banquet Hall of the State House, which part of that place can you see sanitation problem?. A perfect place for the launch would have been Agbogbloshie and other markets in Accra. At these places I’ve mentioned, you can see clearly how sanitation is a big problem there. The President could have used the situation at these places if he’d launched the programme there to advise the public to improve on the insanitary conditions in their respective areas.
He added “The President during the launch said the sanitation programme will start from the Presidency, the Ministries and departments, these places have no sanitation problems. The Marshals that are to be appointed, the Presidency Ministries, Parliament House and the rest what are the sanitation challenges they have there. But go to Agbogbloshie, Chorkor, Mallam Atta, Makola markets, our beaches and see the sanitation challenges there. We should re-focus, focusing on the areas the President mentioned is neither here nor there. If these Ambassadors who attended the launched had been taken to Agbogbloshie and the rest and had seen the sanitation situation there, they could easily have worked out some funds to help us solve the problem.” Ofosu Ampofo noted.
