The Deputy Minister for Defence, Ernest Brogya Genfi, has called for stronger collaboration between government and Zoomlion Ghana Limited to sustain the clean-up of communities hit by the devastating June 29 floods.
Speaking during a visit to assess ongoing operations, Mr. Brogya Genfi said the scale of the disaster means government cannot do it alone and will need additional logistical support from private sector partners.
“This exercise cannot rest on the shoulders of government alone. We need private sector support, which is why we are engaging the Jospong Group to provide the logistics required to complement the military-led operation,” he said.
He commended Zoomlion for voluntarily releasing its semi-trailers for the carting of waste to dump sites, and disclosed that government officials had visited the Jospong Group of Companies to assess its readiness to provide more equipment for the exercise.
The two-day nationwide clean-up was ordered by President John Dramani Mahama following floods that claimed about 30 lives and left large parts of Accra submerged.
According to the Deputy Minister, the exercise is aimed at clearing refuse, desilting drains and preventing disease outbreaks.
“The Commander-in-Chief, President John Dramani Mahama, is himself on the ground, so we cannot fail the citizens. At the Ministry of Defence, we are providing the strategic direction for the military to deliver the support needed to clear the refuse and debris,” he noted.
Mr. Brogya Genfi explained that while the Ghana Armed Forces have deployed personnel and engineering units to clear debris, evacuate waste and desilt choked drainage systems, additional private sector logistics will be critical to sustaining the operation.
He observed that as military personnel removed accumulated refuse, residents continued to bring out more waste from their homes, highlighting the scale of the sanitation challenge.
Beyond the clean-up, he said government will intensify fumigation and disinfection of flood-hit communities.
“Beyond the clean-up, there will be a health response through fumigation and disinfection of affected communities so that we do not experience any disease outbreak,” he added.
