Wow. It’s been 3 months since my last post here. Not a sign of a good blogger, I know. The issues of life have kept me a little busy, but that’s no excuse, I know. Been so long I even forgot my blogger password and way around how to post a blog. That sucks, I know. So then, after hitting myself with all possible queries, let me proceed. I want to talk about a topic that’s been on my heart for years. In fact, it’s so strong it woke me up from my 1 hr sleep in the middle of the night – time check is about 00.14a.m.
It’s so strong I couldn’t even fathom any suitable title. Preposterous, I know. Folks, I want to talk about environmental cleanliness and its attendant benefits to us, as a country. And yes, who doesn’t know it’s good to have a clean environment? Seems like a primary school topic, but there’s much more to it.
Personally I do not care so much about economic talk: GDP growth, reduction in inflation, what else? School feeding programme... yes, that’s another pro poor programme that drives me nuts. I’ll hit on in my subsequent posts. They’re all important but not too important in my perspective. Why? Seek ye first environmental sustainability, and all other benefits shall be added unto you. J
I do not seek a government that will provide free food for school children. I seek one which will lead a strong campaign on environmental cleanliness and proper urban planning. Take it easy and pause for a moment of reflection. These two, when effectively implemented has got humongous benefits. Talk of prevention of communicable diseases like the occasional cholera outbreaks, savings on health investment, prevention of perennial floods and its attendant economic loss, promotion of tourism and its related injection of foreign direct capital into the economy, you name it... but to be honest, it requires a bit more than just a clean environment and well planned cities to achieve these benefits.
A couple of years ago, the vice president in the previous administration began a campaign on discipline. That was a very good point to start, but unfortunately it couldn’t hold; nine day wonder. Don’t get me wrong, but I think our military leaders in the past failed us big time, because such social discipline like non littering and non dumping of refuse at inappropriate places take a long time before it’s fully absorbed and practised. These days, let any government begin any strong handed approach for environmental discipline and we’ll threaten to vote them out with our thumbs. That was just by the way, though.
Where was I? Aha. The attendant economic savings on health expenditure through cleaner aesthetic environment and well planned cities. Can you imagine a Ghana where governance is well decentralised such that each district has the sole responsibility of developing tourist sites within the district in order to earn more cash for development? Tourism goes with cleanliness, it goes with proper planning, it goes with advertising the smaller cities and it would be such a wonderful place to start. I was at the Suntreso Government Hospital earlier today, where a neonatal health project was brought to a conclusion. For the first time, nursing mothers since September 2010 were given extensive advise about neonatal care and called on phone to remind them about post natal visits and child welfare clinic visits. The results were phenomenal!! I can’t rant too much because the results are not yet out officially. But the point is: any well planned intervention can yield fabulous expected results and the same can be done with ensuring good environmental health practices.
What can I do? I’ll lobby appropriate quarters to see how far this district centred tourism idea can be implemented. What can you do? That, my friend, is in your mind alone.
My brothers and sisters – Uncle Atta’s address phrase - there is a lot to be done. Develop yourself. Get a voice. I mean, a voice. Get your voice out there. Not just your voice, get your hands out there too and lets work hard for father Ghana – for once, not mother Ghana. Let us work to keep him clean and healthy, for no matter how far away you will ever travel, there’ll always be some Ghana within you. That Ghana, must be clean and healthy.
Back to bed... zzzzzzzzz...
