The Arch Bishop of Accra,  Charles Palmer-Buckle has stated that, for the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) to achieve the clean Accra it aims at, the Assembly will need to enact laws to  back the activity.

The Arch Bishop made the statement when he was called upon by the Mayor of Accra,  Mohammed Adjei Sowah for sharing ideas that would aid in reaping the filth engulfing the capital city as well as sign the Clean Accra Charter which is set to help in making Accra the cleanest city in Africa.

The Charter aims "recognises that residents neighbours, workers, institutions and visitors to the city have a fundamental obligation to put forward their best efforts on daily basis to ensure a clean, healthy and safe environment in Accra, now and in the future as well as  "watchdogs against insanitary and disorderly development activities in Accra and report these to the notice of the city authorities for immediate action" as well as " waste prevention, reduction, reuse, recycling , organised disposal of refuse and proper use of public spaces."

The Bishop said, " Scientifically when you drop a plastic it takes a 100 years to decompose and so if we have over 2 million people littering the streets of Accra then you can understand the seriousness of the problem".

“My Pope came out with a document some few years ago titled ‘Care for our Common Home’... He talked about sanitation, climate change and a whole lot of challenges. So we have it as a responsibility and duty to conscientise our people to care for our common home. We have as many as 22 Catholic churches and over 4000 members in Greater Accra. I owe it a responsibility to the AMA to be ready and willing to collaborate and contribute on any project that involves the people”.

Stating this, he noted that strict laws must be applicable.

He took it upon himself to discuss with the priests under him to talk to congregants on the importance sanitation in the delivery of their sermons.

He also called on religious leaders to add issues of cleanliness in their sermons as the religious organisations are powerful institutions in the society.

He pleaded, "Religious leaders are a major influence in society and we want to plead with you to add sanitation issues as part of your delivering either in sermons or wherever you find yourselves".

He said, "I will quickly inform all my priests in Accra to talk about sanitation issues during their sermons as part of efforts to complement the assembly's public education measures because it is our responsibility".

He also promised to be inclusive in helping to ensure that Accra becomes clean while touching on the importance of synergy.

The AMA boss expressed his appreciation to the Arch Bishop for his commitment towards the project of making Accra the cleanest city.

Ghanaguardian.com