Jamestown waste evacuation to be treated as national emergency – Minister

The Minister of Local Government, Mahama Ayariga, has declared the waste evacuation exercise at Jamestown a national emergency, highlighting the scale of the sanitation challenge facing Ghana. In a speech at the second Ecumenical Convention in Accra, Ayariga announced that equipment from districts across the nation will be mobilized to Accra to support the cleanup effort. The military, alongside various ministries and government agencies, will aid the operation to ensure the swift evacuation of the accumulated waste.

However, Ayariga cautioned that merely clearing the waste would not resolve Ghana's sanitation crisis. He emphasized the need to address the underlying attitudes, apathy, and indiscipline that contribute to poor sanitation and improper waste disposal. The Minister urged a shift in mindset among Ghanaians, stressing that maintaining clean communities is a collective responsibility involving citizens, local authorities, and the government.

Ayariga suggested that the Jamestown exercise should not only focus on waste evacuation but also serve as a catalyst for a broader national effort to improve sanitation and promote responsible environmental practices.