Greater Accra Regional Minister, Henry Quartey, has urged presiding members to intensify sensitization drives at the districts level to ensure decongestion efforts are sustained.

According to him, the weak enforcement of by-laws is a blight on the local government administration.

Mr Quartey further explained that the failure of stakeholders to institute stringent sanctions is frustrating the ‘Make Accra Work’ agenda. He made this revelation at the Greater Accra presiding members conference held today, August 26, 2021.

“Assemblies have been lambasted for uncontrolled developments, poor sanitation, lack of provision of basic services, sprawling of informal settlements… as evidenced by the Auditor General’s report, just to name a few.

“A weak enforcement of our laws is a bane of local government’s administration in the region. The onus therefore lies on you as presiding members and key stakeholders at the local level to engage your constituents through intensive public awareness programs and sensitization on poor sanitation in your jurisdiction”.
Henry Quartey

Implementation of by-laws at various assemblies

The Greater Accra Regional minister further advised the presiding members to help facilitate the implementation of by-laws.

Additionally, Mr Quartey urged stakeholders to go to the churches, mosques, lorry parks, market and adopt “house-to-house approaches if possible”. This, he explained, is to ensure that constituents comply with the directives.

“The RCC is facilitating the publication and gazetting of the by-laws to enable us launch the two documents for full scale implementation very soon.

“We are still waiting for your coordinating directors to return the signed by-laws to the RCC to complete the process. Indeed, if we are able to reap the full benefits of the by-laws, assemblies must make provision for space for the creation of transfer stations at strategic locations to facilitate the collection and storage of waste”.
Henry Quartey

Following this, he expressed delight over the relocation of onion sellers and traders at Agogbloshie markets to Adzen Kotoku,

He noted that the relocation has brought smiles to these traders who used to operate there.

“It has boosted the local economy at the Ga Municipality and also created opportunity for Ablekuma Central Assembly to benefit from the Agenda 111 initiative…”
Henry Quartey

Depoliticizing sanitation conversation

In July this year, Mr Quartey urged residents within his jurisdiction not to consider his actions towards ‘Making Accra work again’ as politically motivated.

He revealed that the strategies he has so far adopted were aimed at improving the sanitation situation and the living conditions of residents.

The Minister therefore advised loyalists of the two major political parties, NPP and NDC, to join forces in tackling issues of sanitation.

The Greater Accra Regional Minister since assuming office has undertaken several initiatives to provide lasting solutions to challenges in the region. The aim, according to Mr Quartey, is with the view to transform the national capital.

Following this, he has supervised the removal of unauthorized traders along some major streets. Also, he has ensured the pulling down of unauthorized structures, and carried out decongestion exercises.

Coupled with other sanitation drives, he is resolute in ridding the capital of filth.