Ghana must reclaim the values that kept our communities clean

The Chief of Staff in Ghana has pointed out a crucial connection between the country's deteriorating sanitation and the rise of illegal mining, or galamsey, and the fading of traditional values. At a Clean Conference, he argued that we have abandoned our heritage, leading to the problems we now face. While the sanitation crisis and galamsey have many complex causes, the waning of communal responsibility certainly plays a role.

Traditionally, keeping neighborhoods clean was a shared duty, with traditional leaders enforcing community norms and individuals understanding their impact on the larger community. Today, though, residents often dump waste in public spaces, encroach on communal areas, and neglect their responsibilities, expecting others to clean up after them.

The situation with galamsey is even more dire, with forests being destroyed and water sources polluted for short-term financial gains. It is important not to glorify the past, though, as traditional practices alone cannot solve today's sanitation and environmental challenges. Ghana must recover the best of its traditional values and combine them with effective modern systems.

Traditional leaders, government agencies, and local communities must collaborate to rebuild a culture of cleanliness and environmental responsibility. The Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs should develop community-based programs that revive communal cleaning traditions and environmental stewardship.

Schools must educate young Ghanaians about their responsibility as community members. Ultimately, a clean Ghana depends on the choices people make daily.