For years, residents in many Ghanaian communities have complained about choked drains, indiscriminate dumping of refuse and flooding whenever the rains arrive.
But this weekend, in Tema West, the people who often bear the consequences decided to become part of the solution.
The nationwide clean-up exercise transformed streets and marketplaces into work sites, where neighbors worked side by side with security personnel and officials of the Tema West Municipal Assembly.
Long before sunrise, traders left their stalls, residents stepped out of their homes and youth groups assembled with brooms, shovels and wheelbarrows not because they were compelled to, but because they believe cleaner communities begin with collective action.
At the busy Texpo Market along the Spintex Road, traders temporarily exchanged business for community service, sweeping pavements, clearing drains and removing heaps of waste that had accumulated over time.
Many say they joined the exercise because poor sanitation has become more than an environmental concern, it is now a public health issue, especially during the rainy season when clogged drains contribute to flooding and increase the risk of diseases such as cholera, diarrhea and typhoid.
‘‘I wish this had been done earlier. Water wouldn’t have carried people away’’ a trader noted
Another trader wished it would be conducted every week.
‘‘After the floods, I was very ill. My whole family. I am very happy about this exercise and wish it will be regular. And they should bring soldiers since we are very stubborn here’’ he said.
Across the municipality, gutters were desilted, overgrown medians cleared and refuse promptly loaded onto waiting trucks, ensuring the waste was not left behind to find its way back into the drains.
Providing leadership on the ground was the Municipal Chief Executive for Tema West, Ludwig Teye Tortemeh, who toured several communities to monitor the exercise alongside government officials.
‘‘The exercise has been successful today. It’s very encouraging looking at the people who turned up. We have been to a lot of places and it’s encouraging, and we thank everyone for being part of today’s exercise.
We will ensure the exercise is sustained. We are going to keep up desilting the gutters and doing the needful as an assembly. We have all that is needed at the moment for this special exercise, but we will need more subsequently’’. He noted
Member of Parliament for the area James Enu is optimistic the constituency will be rid of flood situations soon.
‘‘The exercise has been successful. We have identified the low-lying areas that need much attention and we will focus on those areas more to ensure they are safe from the floods in future,’’ he said.
The constituents who participated are now calling on authorities to sustain the initiative through regular clean-up exercises, strict enforcement of sanitation laws and improved waste collection services.
By Sarah Apenkroh
