- Scrapping the sanitation fund could make things worse
- Sanitation Day only raises awareness not solving sanitation issues
- People need to change their habits, and laws need to be enforced
The Executive Secretary of the Environmental Service Providers Association (ESPA), Ama Ofori Antwi, has questioned the effectiveness of the National Sanitation Day initiative.
She stated that the monthly cleanup exercise cannot resolve the nation’s sanitation challenges, but it only helps to raise awareness about the issue.
In an interview on Adom FM’s Burning Issues, Madam Antwi, who has worked in the sanitation sector for 12 years, emphasized that while the cleanup day helps inform the public, it doesn’t solve the underlying problems. “The sanitation day cannot fix our sanitation problems; it just makes people aware,” she said.
She also mentioned that the initiative isn’t sustainable and suggested a review, especially focusing on densely populated areas with more pressing sanitation issues.
The National Sanitation Day, which takes place on the first Saturday of each month, was introduced by the NDC administration in 2016 to improve cleanliness in Ghana. On February 28, 2025, the Greater Accra Regional Minister, Linda Ocloo, launched the Regional Sanitation Day, highlighting the need for collective efforts to keep the capital clean and prevent diseases.
This initiative aligns with President John Mahama’s reintroduction of the National Sanitation Day program, aimed at addressing the country’s sanitation problems.
However, Madam Antwi stressed that a change in public attitudes and stronger law enforcement are essential to effectively tackle sanitation issues.
In a related matter, she also expressed concerns about the government’s decision to eliminate the sanitation fund in the 2025 budget, suggesting that it could worsen the country’s sanitation problems.
