By Nneka Nwogwugwu
Mathias Mawuli Ametefe, seasoned Environmental Health Officer has hailed Ghana’s “Operation Clean Your Frontage”.
In an article he wrote, Ametefe hailed Hon. Henry Quartey, the Greater Accra Regional Minister for his undying commitment in putting the city of Accra on the global map especially for his resolve to make the capital a cleaner and healthier city for all to live in.
He said, ‘’the ‘operation clean your frontage’ which requires citizens within Accra to rid their immediate surroundings of filth is an initiative which is in the right direction and its importance cannot be gainsaid.
‘’This is also in tandem with the vision of the President of the republic to make Accra the cleanest city in Africa when he took office.’’
He however, frowned against the loss of business the exercise caused to traders.
He said, ‘’The opportunity cost of this initiative is the clearing of people who make their livelihood from selling on pavements and streets. Indeed, every good thing comes at a cost and so, as we wish to have a clean, aesthetically beautiful city, we also need to cope with the inconveniences that come with it.
‘’I will however, entreat the Regional Minister and his MMDCEs do their best in finding alternative locations within their jurisdiction for the affected people to mitigate the dire economic impact on their lives and that of their dependents.
‘’It is said that good deed is worth emulating. I would therefore call on all Regional Ministers to collaborate with their MMDCEs to replicate what is happening in Accra in their jurisdictions to bring about a cleaner and healthier Ghana. All well-meaning Ghanaians are implored cooperate with the authorities and embrace this initiative to keep the environment clean.’’