Clean beaches, shared responsibility
The worsening state of beaches within the La Dade-Kotopon Municipality should concern not only residents but the nation at large.
Once admired for their scenic beauty and vibrant social life, these coastal stretches are steadily losing their appeal under the weight of plastic waste and debris.
What makes the situation even more troubling is that the problem does not begin at the shoreline.
It starts inland, where indiscriminate waste disposal continues unabated.
Refuse dumped into drains, streams and run-offs is eventually carried into the sea, only to be washed back onto the beaches.
The result is a cycle of pollution that leaves our coastline littered and unattractive.
The Ghanaian Times finds this development deeply worrying.
These beaches are not merely places of leisure; they are critical economic and social assets.
From Laboma Beach to the La Palm Royal Beach enclave, they support tourism, provide livelihoods for fisherfolk and traders, and serve as relaxation centres for families and visitors.
Allowing them to deteriorate is tantamount to undermining both local livelihoods and national tourism potential.
The recent “Operation Clean Your Beach” exercise, organised by the La Dade-Kotopon Municipal Assembly in collaboration with the Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), is therefore commendable.
The involvement of volunteer groups, youth organisations and the National Cadet Corps demonstrates that collective action is possible and effective.
However, one clean-up exercise, no matter how well organised, can not solve a problem rooted in entrenched attitudes and systemic lapses.
As the Municipal Chief Executive, Alfredos Nii Anyetei, rightly noted, there must be a fundamental change in how residents approach sanitation and waste management.
Without this shift, the gains made during such exercises will be short-lived.
Equally important is the point raised by the Deputy Minister for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, Rita Naa Odoley Sowah, on the need for sustained public education.
Many people still fail to appreciate the consequences of improper waste disposal. Education must therefore go hand in hand with enforcement.
We also take note of the concerns expressed by the ECOWAS Resident Representative, Mohammed Lawan Gana, who emphasised that beaches are vital ecosystems and sources of livelihood.
His call for investment in sustainable waste management systems and stricter enforcement of sanitation laws is timely and must not be ignored.
The reality is clear, enforcement of sanitation by-laws remains weak, and waste management infrastructure is often inadequate.
Authorities must rise to the occasion by strengthening monitoring systems, providing adequate waste disposal facilities, and ensuring that offenders are sanctioned without fear or favour.
At the same time, residents must recognise that sanitation is a shared responsibility.
The habit of indiscriminate dumping must stop. Community leaders, schools and civil society organisations all have a role to play in instilling a culture of cleanliness and environmental stewardship.
The Ghanaian Times believes that preserving our beaches is not optional, it is imperative.
If urgent and sustained action is not taken, the environmental damage could become irreversible, with serious implications for public health, tourism and livelihoods.
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