Accra is the eyeball of Ghana, we cannot let sanitation beat us — Ga Mantse

His Royal Majesty King Tackie Teiko Tsuru II, Ga Mantse, has spoken at the inauguration of the Steering Committee of the Accra Green and Clean City Initiative at the Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs.

The Ga Mantse, who will chair the Steering Committee, thanked the Minister for Local Government for the honour and described the appointment as well thought through.

He said the Accra Green and Clean Streets Initiative is an initiative that has been long in coming, and praised the Minister for hitting the ground running shortly after assuming office.

"Accra is the eyeball of Ghana. Accra is the heartbeat of this country. We cannot let our waste management and the management of our waste situation and sanitation beat us," he said.

King Tackie Teiko Tsuru II said the sanitation threat is permanent and the city is being overtaken by the problem, which calls for massive efforts to clean up Accra.

He promised that there would be no pomp and pageantry at the committee's meetings, noting that it is the first time traditional authority is working hand in hand with government to resolve and reset waste management issues.

"Today we see Accra. It is about one thing, sanitation," he said.

The Ga Mantse also raised concern about single-use plastics, describing them as a menace. He noted that out of 40 companies that manufacture single-use plastics, only 20 percent is recycled, while 80 percent ends up in galleys, gutters, drinks and eventually in the sea and rivers.

He stressed that the plastics are not biodegradable, making the problem more serious.

The Accra Green and Clean City Initiative aims to make Accra one of Africa's cleanest, greenest and most attractive cities through improved sanitation, tree planting, street lighting, proper street naming, walkway maintenance and the removal of unauthorised structures.