NSA to deploy service personnel as sanitation guards to enforce waste laws

The Acting Director-General of the National Service Authority (NSA), Ruth Dela Seddoh, says the Authority is seeking a partnership with the Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs to deploy national service personnel as sanitation guards.

She said the initiative is aimed at supporting public education on proper waste disposal and strengthening the enforcement of sanitation regulations across the country.

Speaking to the media on Friday, July 10, during the first day of the two-day nationwide clean-up exercise, Seddoh said she had already written to the sector minister proposing the deployment of national service personnel to assist in addressing poor sanitation practices.

According to her, the move has become necessary due to the continued practice of indiscriminate dumping of waste into drains and other public spaces.

“It’s quite an eyesore to see people put all manner of things, rubbish, all manner of things into our gutters. In this day and time of civilisation, it is very bizarre and heart-wrenching,” she said.

Seddoh said the proposed sanitation guards would first focus on creating awareness among the public before supporting enforcement efforts to deter improper waste disposal.

“I have written a letter to the Minister for Local Government asking him for a partnership where we can deploy some of the national service personnel, as sanitation guards, to support this agenda and ensure that we, as much as possible, create awareness and then enforce the laws to prevent some of these things,” she added.

She expressed hope that the proposal would receive a positive response from the Ministry and contribute to improving sanitation management nationwide.

Her comments come amid renewed calls for stronger enforcement of sanitation laws following the June 29, 2026 floods that affected parts of Accra and other communities, prompting government to organise a two-day national clean-up exercise.