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By Samuel Asamoah
Praxis Africa, in collaboration with IGNITE Media, Kasapreko PLC and the Ashaiman Municipal Assembly, has organized a clean-up exercise at the Ashaiman Lorry Park as part of efforts to promote environmental sanitation and public health.
The exercise involved desilting drains, sweeping the lorry park and clearing waste from sections of the facility. Participants also used the opportunity to educate traders, drivers, passengers and other members of the public on the importance of keeping the environment clean.
Particular attention was drawn to the proper disposal of plastic waste, with organizers urging the public to dispose of plastics at designated points to facilitate recycling.
The organizers noted that indiscriminate disposal of plastic waste contributes significantly to the perennial flooding experienced in many Ghanaian cities, particularly when plastics end up in drains and waterways.
As part of the initiative, Kasapreko PLC donated a refuse container to the Ashaiman Lorry Park to support proper waste collection and disposal.
The Health and Safety Officer of Kasapreko PLC said the company’s commitment to sanitation was driven by the strong link between a clean environment, good health and productivity.
According to the officer, improved sanitation helps reduce the risk of disease and creates healthier conditions for people to live and work, ultimately contributing to increased productivity.
Assembly raises concern over activities of ‘junkies’
The Principal Environmental Health Assistant of the Ashaiman Municipal Assembly, Emmanuel Frimpong, expressed concern over the activities of informal waste collectors, popularly known as “junkies”, which he said were undermining efforts to address plastic waste pollution in the municipality.
He explained that some of the waste collectors go to homes to collect refuse for a small fee, claiming they would transport the waste to approved disposal sites.
However, Mr. Frimpong said some of them instead dump the waste in open spaces and along roads, creating serious sanitation problems for communities.
He therefore appealed to residents to stop engaging such individuals to collect their household waste unless they are properly authorized and can demonstrate that the waste will be disposed of at approved facilities.
He said the Assembly had established a sanitation force to enforce proper sanitation practices and help address indiscriminate waste disposal within the municipality.
Praxis Africa calls for behavioural change
The Country Director of Praxis Africa, Ogyegu Korankye Wontumi II, called on Ghanaians to take environmental sanitation seriously and make cleanliness a collective responsibility.
He said Praxis Africa would continue to collaborate with like-minded organizations and institutions to promote clean and healthy communities.
He explained that the choice of the Ashaiman Lorry Park for the exercise was deliberate because the facility serves as a major transport hub where people from different parts of the country converge daily.
According to him, keeping such a facility clean is essential to preventing the spread of diseases and protecting public health.
He urged the public to complement sanitation interventions by adopting responsible waste disposal practices and avoiding activities that undermine efforts to keep communities clean.
The exercise forms part of growing calls for stronger collaboration between local authorities, businesses, civil society organizations and communities to tackle Ghana’s sanitation and waste management challenges.
