MP for Ahanta West Calls for Action to Address Homelessness, Slums, and Poor Sanitation
Hon. Mavis Kuukua Bissue, the Member of Parliament for Ahanta West, has urged the government and development partners to take concrete steps to address homelessness, slums, and streetism as part of a broader strategy to tackle the country’s worsening sanitation crisis.
Speaking in Parliament on Tuesday, February 18, 2025, Hon. Bissue emphasized that the prevalence of streetism and slums has been a significant contributor to the country’s poor sanitation.
She highlighted the need for a national effort to improve waste management practices, including education, enforcement, and job creation in the waste recycling and collection sectors.
“Mr. Speaker, the lack of proper waste segregation and disposal is a growing concern. A nationwide educational campaign and stronger enforcement measures are critical to expanding the waste management industry, creating jobs, and improving our environment,” Hon. Bissue stated.
She noted that sanitation challenges continue to undermine the health, dignity, and economic potential of the nation, particularly affecting the youth.
Drawing attention to troubling statistics from the 2021 Population and Housing Census, Hon Bissue revealed that 48.6% of urban households do not have access to solid waste collection services, and 34.1% lack household toilet facilities. The situation is even worse in rural areas, where inadequate sanitation infrastructure is rampant.
She said reports by the Ghana Statistical Service indicate that 25% of Ghanaian households still practice open defecation, a situation that remains dire despite previous government efforts, including the National Sanitation Campaign launched in 2017.
“Despite years of government investment in sanitation programs, we continue to face the same challenges. As of March 2023, only 25% of households in Ghana have access to basic, safe sanitation infrastructure,” the Ahanta West lawmaker said.
Hon Bissue cited the recent cholera outbreak in Ahanta West, where 345 people were affected, and four lives were lost. The situation in fishing communities such as Adjoa, Funko, Amanfrom, and Dixcove, she added, was particularly severe due to inadequate waste management, poor access to clean drinking water, and insufficient public toilets.
She said some towns in her constituency like Agona Nkwanta, Abura, and Apowa, improper waste disposal practices have created environmental and public health risks, stressing that these sanitation issues are not only a health hazard but also tarnish the country’s international reputation, hinder tourism, and stifle economic growth, particularly in Ahanta West.
According to her, despite budgetary allocations for the Ministry of Sanitation and Water Resources, the current situation has not shown significant improvement. The Ministry received GH₵360 million in 2020, GH₵362 million in 2021, GH₵368 million in 2022, and GH₵374 million in 2023, but the need for more targeted and effective use of these resources remains critical.
She stressed that addressing sanitation issues cannot be done in isolation and must involve a comprehensive approach that includes tackling homelessness, streetism, and the proliferation of slums, nothing that some of these challenges have contributed to improper waste disposal practices and poor sanitation.
To mitigate the issues, Hon. Bissue proposed a national dialogue on rural-urban migration and economic empowerment with stakeholders such as civil society, chiefs, the clergy, academia, and the business community to address the root causes of rural-urban migration and promote economic empowerment in rural areas.
She also called on the government to implement strategies to provide low-cost housing with basic amenities in rural areas, offering affordable housing options for rural dwellers.
The MP believed a nationwide educational and enforcement campaign should be launched to promote proper waste management and expand the waste recycling and collection industry, creating jobs for unemployed youth.
“Mr. Speaker, the government should collaborate with the private sector to mobilize resources and expertise for large-scale sanitation infrastructure projects. District assemblies and relevant agencies should strictly enforce existing sanitation laws, with appropriate penalties for violations.
She further urged that the youth should be encouraged to explore business opportunities within the sanitation sector, while the government should provide clearly labeled litter bins in public spaces to signal a new era of responsible waste disposal.
Hon. Bissue advocate for a coordinated and sustained effort from both government and citizens to address the sanitation crisis by prioritizing education, enforcement, infrastructure investment, and economic empowerment.
In her view Ghana can achieve a cleaner, healthier, and more prosperous future, stating, “Let us work together to transform our urban and rural landscapes for the betterment of all citizens.”
Source: Felix Nyaaba//expressnewsghana.com
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