Gov’t to blame for sanitation crisis; Linda Ocloo ‘sleeping on the job’ – Bekwai MP

The Deputy Ranking Member of Parliament’s Sanitation Committee, Ralph Poku-Adusei, has blamed the government for Ghana’s worsening sanitation challenges, accusing authorities of failing to provide the resources needed to manage waste effectively.

According to the Bekwai Member of Parliament, the government has not fulfilled its primary responsibility under the country’s environmental sanitation policy to ensure proper waste management.

Speaking on Eyewitness News on Tuesday, July 7, he said assessments and visits by the committee to several sanitation sites revealed an unacceptable situation.

“I must admit that over the past year and a half that we’ve been in Parliament, the report, our observations, our visit to several sites when it comes to sanitation and other related sanitation matters is not the best. It’s appalling,” he said.

Mr. Poku-Adusei argued that sanitation is ultimately a government responsibility and should not be treated as a shared obligation with private service providers.

“It is important to note that pursuant to what we refer to as the Ghana Environmental Sanitation Policy, ultimately it is the government that is responsible for sanitation in this country,” he stated.

He said the government currently lacks the logistics, facilities and personnel required to effectively manage waste across the country.

“The government is failing on that responsibility. That is why we are where we are today,” he added.

The Bekwai MP also criticised the government’s handling of the Environmental Service Providers Association (ESPA), arguing that inadequate funding and delayed payments have affected the capacity of waste management companies to operate effectively.

He said the sanitation situation in Accra requires urgent national attention due to the volume of waste generated daily and its links to public health.

Mr. Poku-Adusei also accused the Greater Accra Regional Minister Linda Ocloo of failing to take decisive action to address the sanitation challenges facing the capital.

“The Greater Accra Regional Minister, simply put, because we have a crisis situation, is sleeping on her job,” he alleged.

He described Accra’s waste situation as a national security concern, noting that the capital generates more than 4,000 tonnes of waste daily.

“This is the metropolis. This is the capital city of Ghana. Look at the amount of waste being generated per day. This should be considered as a serious issue for the government,” he said.

He urged authorities to treat sanitation as a priority and take immediate steps to address the infrastructure and funding gaps affecting waste management.