Ishaq Muhammad Mansoor, Domestic Tax Revenue CRO for the Ghana Revenue Authority, Abelenkpe Branch, says Ghana’s flooding and sanitation challenges can be solved through attitudinal change, regular clean-ups, and improved drainage systems.
Speaking after a clean-up exercise in Accra, Mr. Mansoor said both leadership and citizens have a role to play in tackling the problem.
“Who? Both. We cannot say only leadership. Our attitude as people in Ghana is contributing to this,” he said.
He noted that while leadership must push citizens to act, individuals also need to be mindful of how they dispose of waste in homes and offices.
“It will encourage us to come up and participate in clean-up as and when it is called,” he said.
Mr. Mansoor suggested that scheduling monthly clean-up exercises will go a long way to help solve the problem.
He identified poor drainage as a major challenge, saying most gutters are too small and shallow to carry water during heavy rains.
“Our gadgets are small to contain that, and then the rapid generation is also very rapid,” he explained.
He called on the Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies and other authorities to redesign gutters to make them appropriate for the volume of water.
Mr. Mansoor also stressed the need to properly dispose of waste collected during clean-ups so it does not end up choking gutters again.
“Sanitation is life. We have to improve upon the way we carry out our activities,” he said.
What’s the use if you are clean but the environment is not clean? So we should carry our cleanliness to the environment itself. Make sure that we don’t throw rubbish anyhow.”
He urged Ghanaians to lead by example, saying people will be encouraged to keep their surroundings clean when they see others doing it.
