By Francis Kwabena Cofie, GNA
Alajo (GAR), July 13, GNA – Mr Abdul Ruuf Tony Tubazu, the Member of Parliament (MP) for Ayawaso Central, has urged citizens to promote environmental security by renewing their attitudes towards the environment, to forestall future disasters as witnessed in the recent devastating rains.
Following the recent prolonged heavy rains that brought in its wake widespread loss of lives and property, he admonished residents of the area, to draw lessons and desist from habits such as dumping in drains, indiscriminate littering and building in waterways.
In an interview during a refuse evacuation exercise at Alajo, a suburb of Accra in the Ayawaso Central Municipality during the two- day national clean- up exercise, he said to ensure the municipality was devoid of traces of any left over filth, the mop-up collection of pockets of refuse at various locations would continue for some few more days after the end of the scheduled period.
The MP, who was seen moving from one location to another engaging residents on proper sanitation management, condemned the attitude of some residents who dump refuse indiscriminately in the dead of night.
He indicated that, though the collection was complicated by some residents who took advantage of the exercise to evacuate all kinds of filth from their homes and dumping them onto the flood-related pile of filth, such persons would be pardoned.
The MP disclosed that, partnering with the Assembly, plans were afoot to establish a taskforce to check the nuisance of unscrupulous people building in waterways.
Asked whether there should be a specific legislation to clamp down on irresponsible environmental habits, he said there were enough laws to deal with such situations, adding that the challenge remains with rigorous enforcement.
On his part, the Municipal Chief Executive for Ayawaso Central Mr. Rudolf Collingwoode- Williams called on residents to make environmental cleanliness a daily habit to ensure environmental security for all.
He urged citizens to promote the spirit of communal labour which was an effective vehicle for addressing environmental challenges, adding that proper sanitation is a shared responsibility.
The Municipal Environmental Health Officer, Mr Musa Abdul Samed said part of the mandate of his outfit was to prevent breakout of environmental diseases through education, public engagement and other modalities.
He said proper sanitation was hinged on behavior change and sustainable discipline on a daily basis.
He expressed worry about the uncooperative attitude of some community members during the exercise, adding that increased education would be carried out to promote change of attitude.
The municipality, he said, was likely to encounter diseases such as cholera, typhoid, and other water-related diseases if proactive steps were not taken.
He commended the MCE for being on top of the situation, adding that the assembly together with the environmental health office have put measures in place to contain any health situation.
As a municipality being the heaviest hit, he said, containment measures would go beyond the two-day sanitation exercise.
GNA
Edited by Christabel Addo