The Minister for Local Government, Decentralization, and Religious Affairs, Hon. Ahmed Ibrahim, has called on religious leaders across Ghana to mobilize their congregations in support of the reintroduction of National Sanitation Day set to take place on Saturday, May 3, 2025.
The Minister made the announcement during a courtesy visit to leaders of the Christian Council of Ghana, the Presbyterian Church and the Southern Ghana Union of the Seventh-Day Adventist Church.
He emphasized the unique influence of religious leaders in society, describing them as Ghana’s “social capital” whose words carry moral authority and can inspire behavioral change.
“This is not a party program. It is a national program for national survival,” he said.
From early morning until 10a.m. on May 3, all commercial activity will be suspended and shops are expected to close to help citizens participate in the nationwide clean-up exercise.
The minister also expressed concern over the recent rise in cholera cases, linking it to poor sanitation and improper waste disposal.
He cited a recent parliamentary briefing by the Health Minister detailing the country’s ongoing battle with cholera since October 2024.
He expressed worry over growing environmental degradation, pointing out that fishermen now return from sea with plastic waste instead of fish, with farmlands suffering from declining soil fertility.
“If you go to our beaches, everywhere is plastic. Our fishermen no longer catch fish they catch plastics,” he emphasized.
While acknowledging the public demand for a total ban on plastics, Mr. Ahmed Ibrahim noted that such a move may not be immediately feasible.
Instead, he advocated for increased public education on waste segregation and recycling as the most practical long-term solution.
In response, Chairman of the Christian Council of Ghana, Right Reverend Dr. Hilliard Dogbe assured the minister of the council’s full support, noting “We will communicate this message to our constituents to make sure that nobody is left out,” he said, noting that the issue would be tabled at their next standing committee meeting.
The Minister expressed confidence that with strong collaboration between government and faith-based organizations, public participation in the National Sanitation Day initiative will see a significant boost.
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Source: Comfort Sweety Hayford/ATLFMNEWS
