GAMA Coordinator George Asiedu descends heavily on critics for ‘Ghana is dirty’ label

In a bold and impassioned defence of Ghana’s sanitation efforts, Ing. George Asiedu, the Coordinator of the Greater Accra Metropolitan Area (GAMA) Sanitation and Water Project, took a stand against the prevailing narrative that labels the country as “dirty.”

During a recent learning ceremony event with officials from the Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolitan Assembly (STMA), venerable Ing. Asiedu vehemently refuted criticisms aimed at undermining the Ministry of Sanitation and Water Resources’ initiatives to combat sanitation challenges in Ghana.

Casting doubt on the validity of branding Ghana as “dirty,” he pointed to the country’s stable public health conditions as evidence to the contrary.

He challenged the perception by highlighting the World Health Organization Regional Office for Africa (AFRO) report on cholera outbreaks, which revealed a troubling situation affecting 18 countries in the WHO African Region, resulting in over 62,000 cases and 1,200 deaths in the early months of 2024.

Countries like the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Mozambique, Zambia, and Zimbabwe faced the brunt of the crisis, underscoring the critical link between sanitation practices and public health outcomes.

Commending President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo for his dedication to sanitation improvements, Asiedu emphasized the significant progress made in the sector and warned against dismissing these achievements lightly.

He declared, “Any attempt to push it aside will not be countenanced by either the service or the sector. I’m not saying this because I worked here, but because it is a fact.”

The visit from STMA officials aimed to exchange insights with the GAMA Sanitation and Water Project, seeking to replicate successful strategies in their region.

Speaking during the learning workshop, Hon. Abdul-Mumin Issah, the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) of the Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolitan Assembly, expressed gratitude for the collaboration and highlighted the importance of innovative approaches to address community challenges.

He outlined the Assembly’s proactive stance on securing funding from international sources and sister cities, such as the City of Palermo, which has played a pivotal role in their sanitation initiatives.

Through fruitful partnerships with international entities, the Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolitan Assembly has made significant strides in improving sanitation infrastructure, including the construction of 500 household toilets and over 300 modern smokeless ovens to benefit local fishmongers.

Hon. Issah praised these accomplishments as concrete evidence of their commitment to enhancing Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) standards in the metropolis.

Recognizing the ongoing challenges in the WASH sector, Hon. Issah expressed eagerness to learn from the experiences of the GAMA Sanitation and Water Project and emphasized the importance of collaborations with cities like Dusseldorf and Boston.