SAFE SANITATION - THE ONUS IS ON GHANAIANS!

Constant awareness and an attitudinal change amongst Ghanaians is the key to tackling this nation's grave sanitation problems.

A recent visit to the Labadi community by myself and a Daily Dispatch reporter revealed how some conscientious and innovative residents are attempting to live cleanly, acknowledging that a dirty environment is not created on its own.

Clearing out the gutters along a busy section of La Road is one way Ms. Cecilia Onyame and her family are dealing with their community’s sanitation problems, which range from garbage infested laneways and overflowing sewers to refuse running into the ocean and defecation along the beach.

Five of Ms. Onyame’s relatives unite once a week to shovel sand and scoop out litter, including dozens of plastic water sachets, discarded clothing and rotting food, to prevent the gutters lining their homes from clogging. The garbage is delivered to a public dump site down the street along the beach, while the sand is used for construction.

“It’s a worry to us. (Clearing the gutters) is not our responsibility,” said Ms. Onyame. “But, we can’t sit in the dirt and wait for the authorities to come and help. Because we sell her we don’t want the place to look dirty.”

Their practice began about five years ago, and since then sanitation has improved in the area, so much so, that according to Ms. Onyame, the street no longer floods during heavy rains.

“Initially, the gutters were choked. Now, in general, the sanitation problems have been minimized,” said Ms. Onyame. “Since we are taking the garbage out frequently the water moves freely down the gutter.”

Another Labadi resident, Timothy Nyaqortey Molai, whose family of about 20 live on a property beside Tawala Beach, keeps his living environment clean in other ways.

Twice a month jerry cans, which store water when pipes run dry, are washed out with detergent. When the taps are flowing, water left over in the jerry cans is quickly used up or discarded. The jerry cans are then refilled with fresh water. Garbage is collected and, though not advisable, burned along the beach, as there is no litter pick-up in the area.

“To keep the beaches clean is very tough unless the authorities step in,” he said. “I see the pollution of the beach the responsibility of the whole nation.”

When asked whether he worries about the quality of the water flowing from his tap, which serves about 20 other people in his community, Mr. Nyaqortey Molai claims not.

“Sometimes when it first starts flowing from the tap it’s dirty, but we just wait for it to clear,” says the 32-year-old father of one, who once contracted typhoid from contaminated water. “I don’t worry.”

Although Ms. Onyame and Mr. Nyaqortey Molai realize that ensuring proper sanitation is also a government duty, they share in the responsibility to clean-up litter and recognize that a dirty living environment can negatively affect one’s health.

It’s an attitude Mr. Robert Van-Ess, Director of Technical Services for the Community Sanitation and Water Agency (CWSA) believes needs to spread, not only across Accra, but the country.

“There is a personal responsibility to keep the environment clean...,” he says adding that open defecation and the discharge of raw sewage and refuse into rivers, streams and oceans are key sanitation issues in Ghana. “Don’t litter and live a healthy life to contribute to the development of the country.”

Some residents, however, may not be getting the message.

According to a report recently aired on TV3, residents in an Osu neighbourhood, claim their water supply was contaminated by insects causing several people to fall ill. Though they are blaming this upon poor water quality, could it be their sanitation practices, or lack thereof, that caused the problem?

Based upon CWSA’s recommendations, it could be so. Disinfecting and keeping lids on water containers, jerry cans and Polytanks; boiling the water that is used to wash dishes; discarding water that has been standing stagnant for more than a week; and washing hands regularly with soap can all prevent illness and ensure a healthy living environment.CWSA, which focuses on improving sanitation practices across Ghana’s rural communities where more than 50,000 Ventilated Improved Pit Latrines (VIP) have been set-up so far, also suggests digging and burying refuse instead of dumping and burning it indiscriminately.

“In the end, if your environment is littered with all kinds of rubbish it’s you who is getting sick ... it’s you who is spending money at the hospital,” explains Mr. Van-Ess.

He adds that spreading the message is more challenging in urban areas such as Accra. In rural areas there are less people with more time to listen, while city’s are chaotic, more densely populated and bigger waste producers.

“Because they are more cosmopolitan you have all kinds of people with all kinds of mindsets,” he says. “Everyone is running from place to place, unlike in rural areas where people are available.”

His recommendations to local government, which he says suffers from a lack of staff and resources, include dividing Greater Accra into zones and getting people on the ground to educate residents, showing them the ins and outs and dos and don’ts of hygiene practices.

“Bring the message to the people ... it takes constant interaction,” he says. “Over time they can change their behaviour and appreciate the issue.”

Currently, Ghana’s major cities including Accra, Tamale, Sekondi, Takoradi and Tema generate 3,200 tonnes of garbage per day. Two-thirds of this refuse is either discarded in public dumps, dumped indiscriminately or burned.