Western Regional Minister Joseph Nelson Rallies Assemblies for Cordinated Action on Waste and Sanitation

Minister unveils beautification drive, enforcement plan to tackle indiscriminate dumping and choked drains

Western Regional Minister Joseph Nelson has convened the Chief Executives of four key assemblies to forge a coordinated response to the region's worsening waste management and environmental sanitation challenges.

The meeting follows observations by the Regional Manager of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on poor waste management practices across the region. In attendance were the Chief Executives of the Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolitan Assembly, Effia-Kwesimintsim Municipal Assembly, Shama District Assembly and Ahanta West Municipal Assembly, alongside the EPA Regional Manager.

The engagement comes at a time when sanitation has become a major public concern in the metropolis. The Regional Minister has previously berated the Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolitan Assembly over what he describes as the Assembly's inability to properly manage waste in the metropolis, warning that poor sanitation and choked drains are worsening flooding and exposing residents to disease outbreaks. 

According to the Minister, the meeting was informed in part by the recent history of cholera outbreaks in the Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolis, underscoring the need for a sustained response to indiscriminate refuse disposal, choked drains and the improper management of faecal waste.

After deliberations, the Minister and the MMDCEs agreed on a coordinated strategy to beautify principal streets and major entry routes into communities in the region.

The initiative will cover key corridors including Sekondi College Junction to the Regional Coordinating Council, Shama, Effia-Kwesimintsim and Ahanta West, with plans to extend to adjoining assemblies.

Key measures agreed include:

1. Discouraging the siting of refuse dumps and dumpsters along major roads

2. Beautifying road medians to improve aesthetics and order

3. Identifying flood-prone and choked drains for targeted desilting and intervention

4. Building on existing beautification initiatives, such as those being undertaken by Ahanta West, as a foundation for the regional drive

The Minister indicated that the Western Regional Coordinating Council is implementing a series of interventions aimed at improving drainage infrastructure, strengthening environmental enforcement, and enhancing flood mitigation measures. 

Beyond the physical interventions, Mr. Nelson stressed the need to strengthen enforcement to sustain gains. He said the assemblies must promote responsible waste disposal and are considering the establishment of a special taskforce to support compliance and sanitation efforts across the assemblies.

"Our ambition is to build a Western Region where clean streets, free-flowing drains and attractive public spaces become the standard, not the exception. This will require coordinated leadership from our assemblies, effective environmental regulation and the active participation of every resident," the Minister stated.

He called on residents, traditional authorities, businesses and transport operators to support the initiative by adhering to sanitation by-laws and keeping their frontages and communities clean.