From clean-up to clean culture: Accra must change now

The directive by President John Dramani Mahama to operationalise six long-abandoned waste transfer stations in Accra is a welcome and long-overdue intervention.

For a city frequently overwhelmed by floods, choked drains and mounting refuse, this decision offers a practical step towards improving waste collection and preventing a repeat of the devastation witnessed after the June 29 floods.

That disaster, which claimed lives and displaced thousands, was not merely a natural occurrence.

It exposed years of neglect, weak planning and a troubling culture of poor sanitation.

 The plastic waste, silt and debris that clogged drains across the capital underscore a problem we have allowed to fester for far too long.

The Ghanaian Times commends the move to finally put these transfer stations into use.

It is unacceptable that such vital infrastructure lay idle while the city struggled with inefficient waste disposal.

If properly managed, these facilities will reduce turnaround time for refuse trucks and ensure that waste cleared from drains is not washed back into waterways.

Yet, this intervention alone will not solve Accra’s sanitation crisis.

The problem goes beyond infrastructure. It is rooted in human behaviour, weak enforcement of by-laws and a widespread disregard for environmental responsibility.

The clean-up exercise, which brought together residents, security agencies, corporate bodies and civil society, showed what collective effort can achieve.

However, history has shown that such enthusiasm is often short-lived.

 Once the urgency fades, old habits quickly return.

Accra cannot continue to rely on emergency clean-ups after disasters.

What is needed is a sustained cultural shift, one that makes cleanliness a daily responsibility, not a periodic activity.

The President’s call for citizens to take ownership of sanitation is therefore appropriate.

Keeping the environment clean is not the sole responsibility of government or waste companies.

It is a shared duty. Drains are not refuse dumps, and until that mindset changes, the problem will persist.

Equally critical is the strict enforcement of sanitation laws. Indiscriminate dumping, building on waterways and other violations must attract real consequences.

Without enforcement, indiscipline will continue unchecked.

Metropolitan, municipal and district assemblies must also step up.

They must ensure that waste management systems work efficiently and that partnerships with private sector operators deliver results.

Accountability and transparency must guide these arrangements.

The dominance of plastic waste in our drains further highlights the need for decisive action on plastic pollution.

 Policies to reduce single-use plastics and promote recycling must be vigorously pursued.

While the release of funds to support flood victims is commendable, Ghana must focus more on prevention than response.

The Ghanaian Times believes this must be a turning point.

The operationalisation of the transfer stations should signal the beginning of sustained action to transform sanitation in Accra.

We must move beyond clean-up exercises and build a clean culture.

Anything less will only prepare us for the next disaster.

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