Vice President Professor Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang has urged Ghanaians to adopt responsible sanitation practices, warning that indiscriminate waste disposal is contributing to flooding and putting communities at risk.
Joining a community clean-up exercise in the Nungua area, as part of the ongoing National Clean-up Exercise, the Vice President said many of the environmental challenges facing the country were the result of human actions rather than natural causes alone.
“We are here because something has gone wrong,” she told journalists.
“A lot of it is something that you and I have caused. We know that nature will do its own thing, but sometimes we also contribute negatively to the outcomes.”
Prof. Opoku-Agyemang said dumping refuse into drains prevents water from flowing naturally, increasing the risk of flooding that often affects people who played no part in causing the problem.
“There are times when even the person who suffers may not necessarily have been the one who caused the damage. When we throw garbage into our drains, maybe that is the reason why somebody’s house is finally flooded because we are blocking the water from taking its natural course,” she said.
She said the clean-up exercise should serve as a reminder that preventing floods begins with individual responsibility and proper sanitation practices.
“We all know the right things. We don’t need any sermon. We know. Let’s do the right things and protect each other and protect our country,” she said.
The Vice President thanked residents and volunteers who participated in the exercise, describing their involvement as an important demonstration of community spirit.
“I want to thank you all for coming out to help because there’s a time we should all show love,” she said.
