Dr. Julius Debrah urges Ghanaians to make sanitation a daily responsibility

Chief of Staff Dr Julius Debrah has urged Ghanaians to make sanitation a daily responsibility, stressing that a clean environment is essential to public health, productivity and national development.

Speaking at the Clean Ghana Conference, Dr Debrah said the condition of Ghana’s streets, drains, public toilets and water bodies reflects the country’s commitment to protecting its people and environment.

“Every morning before Ghana goes to work, our streets tell a story about us,” he said, citing plastic bottles on pavements, poorly maintained public toilets and polluted rivers as examples of sanitation challenges confronting the country.

He described sanitation as more than a cosmetic exercise, saying it is a measure of responsible citizenship and effective leadership.

“A clean country is therefore not a cosmetic mission. It is a test of citizenship. It is a test of leadership,” he stated.

He commended Ignite Media Group for organising the conference and bringing sanitation and environmental sustainability to the centre of national discussions.

According to Dr Debrah, effective sanitation systems contribute significantly to healthier communities, improved productivity and reduced pressure on hospitals.

He cited World Bank estimates indicating that countries lose between two and four percent of their Gross Domestic Product each year because of inadequate sanitation.

He acknowledged that Ghana had made progress but said major challenges remained, particularly limited access to safe household sanitation and the continued practice of open defecation in some communities.

“These are not merely statistics. They describe the daily indignity of our citizens,” he said.

Dr Debrah said the government under President John Dramani Mahama was determined to address the challenges through investments in water, sanitation and hygiene.

He noted that government had expanded water systems, supported rural sanitation and hygiene promotion, and strengthened institutions responsible for keeping communities clean.

He also highlighted the National Sanitation Day, observed on the first Saturday of every month across all 16 regions and 261 districts as part of the Clean Ghana agenda.

However, he cautioned that one designated sanitation day could not solve the country’s sanitation problems.

“Saturday alone cannot carry the burden,” he said, stressing the need for cleanliness to become a daily habit among citizens.

Dr Debrah also called for Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies to be held to higher standards, with sanitation indicators included in their performance assessments.

“What we measure, we can manage. And what we assign, we must hold people accountable for,” he stated.

The Chief of Staff further called for stronger enforcement of environmental laws, warning against indiscriminate dumping, construction without proper toilet facilities and structures that block waterways.

He insisted that enforcement must be fair and consistent, arguing that selective application of the law would fail to change public behaviour.

“Rules applied only occasionally or only to those without influence will not change the behaviour,” he said.