Full text: President Mahama's speech at the launch of National Sanitation Day
Source: myjoyonline

Mr. Chairman, Minister for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, Ministers of State Present, Members of Parliament Present, Our esteemed Niimei and Naamei, Our revered Religious Leaders, Representatives of our Development Partners, Chairperson of Coalition of NGOs in Water, Sanitation and Hygiene, President of Environmental Services Providers Association, Cherished Media Personalities gathered here, My beloved Students from Accra School of Hygiene and other second cycle schools invited, Distinguished Invited Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen, Environmental sanitation is fundamental to public health, the health of the citizenry, education, and tourism and is one of the key drivers of sustainable socio-economic development of every country. Yet, despite our progress in environmental sanitation service delivery, challenges persist. Unsanitary conditions contribute to the spread of diseases, environmental degradation, and hinder our progress as people. It is, therefore, incumbent upon us to prioritize and address these issues with untiring resolve with a coordinated, sustained and collective effort to confront these challenges head-on to keep our cities and towns clean. It is in recognition of this need that my government, through the Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy, and Religious Affairs, is re-introducing the National Sanitation Day as part of the “Clean Up Ghana” agenda. This initiative aims to foster a culture of environmental responsibility, improve public health and enhance the aesthetic beauty of our cities and communities. Ladies and Gentlemen, it is with great pleasure and a deep sense of responsibility that I join you to officially launch the re-introduction of the National Sanitation Day. The National Sanitation Day is a call to action; an opportunity for each of us, regardless of our political affiliation, social standing, ethnicity, or religious beliefs, to unite in keeping our surroundings clean. The day signifies the importance of community ownership and collective responsibility in maintaining a healthy environment. This initiative will be driven by partnerships across government institutions, traditional authorities, religious bodies, community organizations, businesses, educational institutions, and the public. Mr. Chairperson, the success of the previous National Sanitation Day which took place between 2014 and 2016 demonstrated the immense potential of citizen-led efforts, as communities actively desilted gutters, cleared waste, and engaged in proper environmental sanitation practices. The re-introduced National Sanitation Day will be observed nationwide on the first Saturday of every month. I urge all Ghanaians to come out in their numbers to help clean our surroundings, desilt the gutters and weed unkempt public spaces. Let us make this a nationwide habit that reflects our identity as environmentally conscious people. Ladies and Gentlemen, it is our expectation that the National Sanitation Day will help us achieve the following objectives: Promote awareness, create a sense of ownership, participation and shared responsibility among citizens, encouraging community-led efforts. Establish and sustain a culture of routine cleaning and maintenance of our surroundings. Enhance the aesthetic beauty and pleasant environment in our cities and towns, promoting national pride, identity and responsible behaviour. Improve environmental sanitation, and related hygiene practices to reduce disease outbreaks by breaking the cycle of disease transmission through effective waste management. Supporting economic development through tourism as a clean country can boost tourism and attract the needed investors. I am fully convinced that the National Sanitation Day will in no small way contribute to the attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly those that prioritize health and wellbeing, sustainable cities, clean water and sanitation, climate action, and ocean and land conservation. We need to be committed to building a cleaner, safer, and more resilient Ghana for present and future generations. Mr. Chairperson, the "Resetting Ghana" agenda, is committed to ensuring that every Ghanaian has access to improved sanitation facilities, for which we are investing in modern waste management systems and sanitation facilities across the length and breadth of the country. The sanitation sector provides a viable avenue for employment and economic empowerment. I encourage our teeming young Ghanaians to take an active interest in developing entrepreneurship innovations around the current challenges of waste management facing our country. It is my hope that through creation of enabling environment, our youth will take advantage to transform waste management sector into viable economic venture, to invariably create employment and sustain the environment. Ladies and Gentlemen, as government we are committed to protecting the environment, through initiatives like Blue Water River Guards and the Tree for Life Restoration. Under Blue Water programme, 2,000 youth are expected to be trained to combat illegal mining and protect Ghana’s river bodies, with an initial phase engaging 400 participants. The Tree for Life Restoration initiative promotes afforestation and environmental sustainability by restoring degraded forests and fighting climate change. It engages youth in reforestation efforts, planting economically valuable species like cocoa, palm, timber and rubber, thereby creating sustainable employment and supporting ecological balance. I want to assure Ghanaians that my government will implement a new performance assessment framework for Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives. This framework will incorporate stringent environmental sanitation indicators to ensure that the Chief Executives prioritise and invest in environmental sanitation services within their areas of jurisdiction as pledged in our manifesto. Distinguished Invited Guests, I wish to emphasize the critical role of stakeholders in making the National Sanitation Day a success, by actively participating. We are not just cleaning our environment; we are securing the health of our people, protecting our environment and leaving a legacy for the generations to come. To our cherished media friends, your power to inform, educate and influence public behaviour cannot be overstated. We therefore entreat you to use your various platforms to raise awareness, sensitize the public and promote responsible environmental practices. Your collaboration is key to ensuring that every Ghanaian understands the significance of this day for their active participation. Our Revered Traditional and Religious Leaders , as custodians and embodiments of our culture and religious beliefs, I appeal to you to use your influence to encourage your followers to embrace and support this laudable initiative. Your voice can inspire change, foster a sense of ownership, and strengthen community bonds for a cleaner and healthier Ghana. As part of our comprehensive agenda to improve the quality of life of our citizens. I am committed to strengthening the relevant institutions to deliver effective and efficient environmental sanitation services at the local government level. Subsequently, as promised under my party’s manifesto, we will upgrade the Environmental Health and Sanitation Units at the Regional, Metropolitan, Municipal, District levels to fully fledged departments. These departments will receive all the necessary resources to deliver sustainable environmental sanitation services throughout our regions and districts. To ensure the long-term sustainability of the National Sanitation Day, the “Cleanest City Award”, an incentive-based approach that recognizes districts, municipalities, and metropolitan assemblies for their dedication to maintaining a clean environment will be instituted to foster healthy competition and reinforce the culture of environmental cleanliness in the country. My Fellow Citizens, the success of the National Sanitation Day rests on the collective efforts of all of us. Let us rekindle the spirit of communal labour, take responsibility for our environment, and ensure that our surroundings reflect the pride we hold so dearly. I entreat all Ghanaians to take ownership of this initiative. Let us make the National Sanitation Day a true celebration of our commitment to a cleaner, healthier and more sustainable Ghana. Together, we can build a nation that future generations will be proud of; a nation where cleanliness and environmental responsibility will be part of our everyday life. On this note, Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen , it is my pleasure to declare National Sanitation Day duly launched. Thank you, and may God bless our homeland, Ghana