Re: AMA To Stop Water Sachet Production

I find it rather worrying that the AMA chief executive has embarked on a narrowly-scoped-out plot to avert the rather unhygienic and despicable sanitary conditions in the nation?s capital. In as much as I commend him for his efforts I would like to register my militant disagreement with his approach. I shudder to say it will at best yield insignificant results.

Water sachet disposal should not be handled any differently from other waste management practices. Any business endeavor is bound to generate a by-product, some of which may eventually degenerate into a social menace?.trash, fumes etc. I certainly agree that certain ventures should be discontinued when they pose significant threats to the ecosystem but I think it is the notorious indiscipline among the citizenry that need to be revisited and aggressively reversed.

Why the AMA boss should single out the water producers leaves much to desire. They may be contributing to the problem but they certainly aren?t the only culprits. It is nothing less of an incompetent tactic shrouded in gross ineptitude ? a dimwitted approach to solving an insignificant portion of a bigger problem. .

I am afraid the elimination of a single line of business would not cut deep into the problem! A far-cry from real causes of the problem!

It is an ill and poorly thought-out-solution with cascading economic off-shoots of unthinkable proportions that should neither be condoned nor encouraged by well-meaning citizens.

Why deprive the water producers a means of livelihood? Why kill small business initiative at a time when we even have a ministry dedicated to augment and support citizenry entrepreneurship (PSI for that matter). Is the AMA boss aware of the unemployment ramifications of his actions and provocations? He needs to be stopped!

Accra residents and residents of all major cities in the country need significant improvement on their general waste disposal habits. It needs a radical overhaul! It is only through serious education and possibly the imposition of hefty fines that we can achieve acceptable sanitary conditions that have eluded us for too long.

I think the residents or the citizens of Accra should be held accountable for their rather reckless waste disposal habits. It is rather shameful that citizens can not be responsible enough to dispose off their own garbage.

Here are some ideas to get you started Mr. Boss:

1. Prudent and effective campaigns to educate the general populace.
2. Readily accessible waste disposal through out the city
3. Enact stringent laws that impose hefty fines on violators.
4. Increase waste management levies on businesses that generate more than a certain threshold of waste (this should be included in their license or renewal fees, wherever applicable)

I hope you are listening!

Akwadu

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