The College Of Basic and Applied Sciences organized its fourth public lecture series on the theme ‘’Sustainable Environmental Management and Improved Sanitation: A shared responsibility’’. The lecture was held at the Great Hall of the University of Ghana on the 24th of February 2016.
In his opening address, the Provost of the College of Basic Applied Sciences Professor Ebenezer Oduro Owusu entreated Ghanaians not to blame the government entirely on the issue of poor sanitation because our attitude plays a major role in the filthy environment which we find ourselves in today.
He elaborated that the City Authorities have allowed many houses to be built without proper waste disposal measures and the development of slums without any control. Therefore, people irresponsibly dispose of refuse without considering the health hazard accompanying their actions. He urged all city dwellers to change their attitude towards keeping good sanitation to reflect better environmental waste management.
Delivering his address on the topic, the Chief Executive Officer of Accra Metropolitan Assembly Hon. Dr. Alfred Okoe Vanderpuije who was the speaker for the occasion, appealed to MMDAS, DCE, Financial Institutions, the universities and other stakeholders to bring on board their expertise to help manage the issue of sanitation in the Metropolis.This he said would ensure a sustainable environmental management and good habits from the people to improve general health conditions in Accra.
The MCE made it clear that out of about 3,000 tons of solid waste generated in the city daily only 2,500 tons are collected leaving a backlog of 500tons. It is for this reason that, the Accra Metropolitan Assembly is in the process of constructing a landfill site for proper dumping and management of the volume of waste generated. He said the project will aim at recycling municipal waste to be converted into bio-energy.
With regards to financial base to build infrastructure, He emphasized that the Assembly would partner financial institutions and industry players to support the best practices for sustainable environmental management since it is capital intensive. He stressed that preparations are underway to ensure the implementation of Accra Sanitary Sewer and Storm Water Drainage Alleviation Project to serve areas such as the Odaw Basin through University of Ghana and its environs.
He said with the staff strength of 88 and the growing population of Accra, the Metropolitan Assembly would in the meantime work in tandem with the School of Hygiene to employ their graduate to make the dream of ridding Accra of filth a reality. He adviced the students to be ready to utilize their knowledge in hygiene for the betterment of the people. This he stressed could be attained when students use their technical know-know how to promote ideas that would provide clean environments for the city of Accra.
He further advised students and lecturers to advocate for best sanitational practices through information on the ill effect of bad sanitation in the city, adding that the general public should also make a concerted effort to bring sanity into their lives. This he said would reflect in their communities. He entreated the general public to be responsible citizens by registering and paying their bills on waste management companies. He also encouraged the public to embrace the idea of fighting filth in the city.
The floor was opened for contributions and people expressed their dissatisfaction on the many challenges confronting the issue of sanitation in Accra. The Dean of School of Agriculture from the College of Basic and Applied Sciences, Professor John Ofosu-Anim, in his submission made it clear that proper waste management is practiced in the advance world so he called on the experts who visit such places to study how to use and recycle the incombustible waste products to produce organic manure.
Participants encouraged the AMA to work closely with education Institutions and make use their research.
The MCE donated two hundred waste bins to the University of Ghana to argument the number of bins of the University and also to ensure proper sanitary environment.