…to enforce environmental bye-laws
As part of efforts to maintain and sustain good sanitation in major cities of the country, the Ministry of Sanitation and Water Resources (MSWR) in partnership with Zoomlion Ghana Limited (ZGL) has donated five (5) double-cabin pickup vehicles to the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF).
The move is to enable personnel of the GAF to monitor and ensure compliance with environmental bye-laws in the national capital, Accra, and other regional capitals of the country.
Making the presentation on the forecourt of the Directorate of Public Relations, Burma Camp, Accra, on Friday, the Minister of Sanitation and Water Resources, Mrs. Cecilia Abena Dapaah said: “We are by this gesture appreciating efforts of the Armed Forces in the fight to ensure clean environs of our cities”.
She said it is imperative that Ghanaians strive to practice good personal hygiene and also observe good sanitation practices.
This, she said, will help prevent outbreak of diseases and keep a healthy population to support the country’s development drive.
“In our pursuit of general cleanliness, we should behave like animals who always keep their environs clean,” the sanitation and water resources minister suggested.
Mrs. Dapaah commended the GAF for supporting her ministry in the quest to make the country clean.
“I must place on record that every time we have appealed to the defence minister, he has shown readiness to assist my ministry. And not only in the area of cleaning and cleansing; also, personnel of GAF have participated in desilting and dredging drains across the country,” she expressed.
In this regard, she commended, especially, Zoomlion Ghana Limited for being very supportive of her outfit.
Mrs. Dapaah also used the opportunity to remind Ghanaians of the need to observe the COVID-19 safety protocols.
“Let us keep ourselves and environs clean and observe all the COVID-19 safety protocols, particularly wearing nose masks to protect ourselves and others from contracting the virus,” she reiterated.
While praising the MSWR and Zoomlion Ghana Limited for the donation, the Defence Minister, Mr. Dominic Nitiwul, intimated that the gesture will contribute to achieving the president’s vision of making Accra the cleanest city in Africa.
“We cannot agree with the president more in this era of COVID-19 pandemic; as such, this presentation is timely and essential,” he said.
He assured that the vehicles will be used by GAF for their purpose – monitoring environmental sanitation programmes.
“We will also ensure that the vehicles are properly maintained to carry out the tasks in order to achieve the intended purpose for which they were presented,” the defence minister affirmed.
He expressed hope that the existing collaboration between the two ministries – defence and sanitation and water resources – will grow as part of efforts to defeat the deadly novel coronavirus disease in the country.
He recalled the sanitation and water resources’ donation of some 600 waste-bins to his ministry, stating that: “It therefore shows the commitment and seriousness she [Mrs. Dapaah] attaches to my ministry and hers”.
In a welcome address, the Chief of the Defence Staff (CDS), Lieutenant General Obed Akwa, described the presentation as a “noble gesture”.
According to him, collaborations such as this are essential in the country’s battle against COVID-19.
Also, he said, the vehicles’ presentation was timely – thereby applauding the gesture of the MSWR and Zoomlion Ghana Limited.
He particularly lauded Zoomlion Ghana Limited for its support over the past few years to GAF.
In attendance was the deputy Defence Minister, Major (Rtd.) Derrick Oduro, Service Commanders, Chief Directors of the MSWR and MoD among others.
