President John Dramani Mahama has weighed in on a trending video by environmental campaigners, “Buz Stop Boys”, that exposed unhygienic fish-drying practices at Tema New Town.
He called on Ghanaians to take greater responsibility for keeping their environment clean.T he footage, which has generated wide discussion online, captured piles of garbage around a spot where fish was being dried for the market.
It has renewed concerns about how poor sanitation affects public health and incomes. Speaking at the Men’s Ministry Day at Ringway Gospel Centre Assemblies of God Church on Sunday, August 2, President Dramani Mahama said the video was a wake-up call that cleanliness is everyone’s duty.
“Recently I was watching a video, Buz Stop Boys went to Tema New Town and if you see the rubbish there, meanwhile they were drying fish and that fish was supposed to come into the market. The worst one was, some nice woman on the beach doing her business. We must be responsible as citizens,” he said.
The President said government and local authorities cannot solve the sanitation problem alone. Citizens, he noted, must change their habits to support the effort.He also warned against the habit of dumping waste into drains once floods subside.
“Now the floods have gone and so we are like the vulture. Throwing sachet water, Styrofoam, food packaging and everything into the drain, we should remember that when the floods come they will come and meet those things there,” he stated.
According to him, protecting the environment starts with a shift in mindset. People must take pride in their communities and consider the impact of their actions.The President backed his message with scripture, citing James 2:17.
“James 2:17 tells us that faith without works is dead and so if our faith must go with works, then it must show in our character,” he added. His remarks come as Ghana continues to grapple with waste management challenges, flooding, and the public health risks linked to indiscriminate littering across the country.
