GJA wages war against filth

PThe Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) is waging war against insanitary conditions in the country, its president Affail Monney has announced.

The move, according to the GJA, was necessary to protect the public against preventable diseases which could lead to death.

 Mr Monney made the assertion when he paid a courtesy call on the Minister of Sanitation and Water Resources, Madam Cecilia Dapaah, in Accra yesterday.

The visit was to make known the association’s intention towards the fight against poor sanitary conditions in the country, just as it did in the fight against illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey.

He was confident of the fact that the media can be used as a great tool in the fight against the menace which was claiming lives at an alarming rate.

“We are making head way in our fight against galamsey. Some of the affected water bodies have already begun taking their natural form now that the illegal activities have been stopped, so we, as an association believe that with the same strategy, we can also win the fight against indiscriminate dumping of refuse and insanitary conditions as a whole,” he assured.

Mr Monney said it was very important for the media to help shape the attitude of the public to always do the right thing when it comes to waste disposal and waste management.

He bemoaned situations where people defecate openly, saying such acts bring shame upon the country and contribute to the spread of diseases.

“It is sad that in this age and time, people still openly defecate. This unspeakable act is an open invitation to diseases. We are ready to support the President’s mission of transforming the country.”

According to the president, his outfit would do all it can to educate the public on the consequences of the menace.

Madam Dapaah, on her part, cautioned the public against indiscriminate dumping, saying such actions are one of the major causes of flood in the country.

“We need to stop polluting the environment to protect ourselves from diseases like dysentery, malaria and typhoid among others. Government cannot fight this menace alone so let us all come together to promote cleanliness wherever we find ourselves,” she added.

She revealed that President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo was indeed serious about making Accra the cleanest city in Africa so Ghanaians should make the promise a reality by playing their role in its achievement.

Madam Dapaah cautioned that her outfit would soon start naming and shaming unhygienic areas and individuals in the country.

BY RAISSA SAMBOU