Former President John Dramani Mahama has raised concerns about the deteriorating state of sanitation in Ghana despite the existence of the Ministry of Sanitation and Water Resources.
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In a public lecture at the Wisconsin International University College in Accra on April 4, 2024, Mahama expressed disappointment with the effectiveness of the ministry, stating that the country appeared to be dirtier now than before the ministry’s establishment.
Mahama, who is also the flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), announced his intention to dissolve the Ministry of Sanitation and Water Resources if re-elected and assuming office in 2025. He emphasized the need to reduce government expenditure and questioned the ministry’s utility.
“We will close down the Ministry of Sanitation, one to reduce expenditure and two, I don’t see any use. Accra, our country is dirtier than when there was no Ministry of Sanitation,” Mahama remarked during the lecture.
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The former president proposed decentralizing sanitation responsibilities to the district level, arguing that every assembly should be obligated to ensure cleanliness in its district.
He suggested consolidating several other underperforming ministries, including Aviation and Railways, into the Transport Ministry to streamline government operations and reduce the number of ministries.
“It is not only the Sanitation Ministry, in Transport, Aviation and Railways, we are going to close them down and send them back to the Transport Ministry. We are going to combine Communications and Information again. So, we want to reduce the number of ministries,” Mahama explained.
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