Western Regional Minister Joseph Nelson has directed metropolitan and municipal assemblies to deploy city guards to confront residents littering in public spaces.
He is emphatic that sufficient local by-laws exist to address issues related to indiscriminate waste disposal.
Speaking exclusively to Orokodo News on Connect FM, Mr. Nelson stated that the Sekondi Takoradi Metropolitan Assembly (STMA) and the Effia Kwesimintsim Municipal Assembly (EKMA) will spearhead this initiative.
“I have directed all Municipal, Metropolitan, and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) in the region to use their by-laws to establish a new order for improved sanitation management, specifically targeting littering. We need to enforce these by-laws to curb this behavior,” the Minister stated.
“I have instructed the two MCEs [of STMA and EKMA] to deploy their city guards… They can be tasked with approaching people who litter.”
He added that sanctions must be prescribed to deter potential offenders. “We cannot continue with a business-as-usual approach. We must adopt new methods… ensuring people understand littering will not be easy or consequence-free,” Mr. Nelson emphasized.
The Minister acknowledged that sanitation remains a major challenge for assemblies, noting it is why the President is using it as a benchmark for MMDCE performance evaluations. However, he expressed hope that the revised waste management approach will yield significant results.
“Ultimately, assemblies will be empowered to engage whichever company they believe can effectively handle waste management,” he concluded.
These remarks follow Connect FM’s serial reports highlighting worsening sanitation conditions in the Sekondi Takoradi Metropolis and Effia Kwesimintsim Municipality.
The reports documented severe refuse accumulation emitting repugnant stenches in areas including Pipe Ano, Jubilee Park Market, and the Takoradi Central Business District, raising health concerns for residents and traders.
