Okudzeto sanitation problems due to non-enforcement of laws

Ho, Nov. 9, GNA - Mr Sam Okudzeto, a lawyer, on Thursday attributed the country's environmental sanitation problems to the non-enforcement of laws and regulations meant to tackle such problems.

He was speaking on the "role of law and law enforcement for promotion of environmental sanitation" at the 48 annual conference of the Ghana Medical Association in Ho.

The conference was under the theme, "Environmental sanitation law and order and health".

Mr Okudzeto said the provisions in the "Environmental Protection Agency Act, 1994 (Act 490) and the Assessment Regulations, 1999 (LI.1652) provided sufficient legal framework for addressing the environmental sanitation challenges confronting the country.

He said the inability of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to apply the force of law it was entitled to needed to be addressed by all segments of the society acting in concert with each other and the EPA. Mr Okudzeto said the collective effort and involvement by all in fixing the problem stemmed from the fact that the consequences of poor environmental sanitation would affect all without discrimination. He therefore commended the GMA for bringing the issue into focus during their conference.

"But you need to fully involve your colleagues in the other disciplines to join you in drawing the government's attention to the dangers of non-compliance with the law", he said.

Mr Okudzeto suggested that all professional bodies in coming together should create a sub-committee on environmental sanitation to monitor compliance and to organize periodic forums to discuss environmental sanitation.

He said industry should contribute into a fund for public education on the need to observe environmental sanitation rules with the judiciary creating special courts or set aside court days to deal with environmental sanitation violations.

"Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives should at their annual meetings have on their agenda compliance of environmental sanitation laws and rules," he said.