Sekondi-takoradi: Mr Joseph Nelson, the Western Regional Minister, has called for stiffer sanctions for sanitation offenders to help imbibe proper waste management practices among the citizens. Speaking after the two-day national general clean-up exercise in the Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolis, he stated that individuals must be held responsible and sanctioned for any indiscriminate dumping of refuse to help improve upon environmental cleanliness.
According to Ghana News Agency, Mr Nelson emphasized that waste generation and improper disposal are issues rooted in personal attitudes, and therefore, individuals should be accountable for maintaining a clean environment. He remarked, "If the Assembly by-laws are strictly enforced, people will come to the consciousness that when you litter, there is a big price you are going to pay for your actions."
Mr Nelson pointed out that while the national general clean-up campaign is a positive step, it should not be limited to occasional events but instead be integrated into daily community activities. He stated, "The occasional call for us to clean our environment is good but that alone does not entirely solve our sanitation problems, so I believe that the Assemblies must strictly enforce their by-laws and sanctions so that cleaning our spaces become a part of our daily habits."