A sports betting company and sponsors of the Ghana Premier League, betPawa, has launched the ‘Street Sweepers’ initiative as part of efforts to keep the city of Accra clean.
In partnership with the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA), the initiative would see 200 sweepers deployed to areas including the John Evans Atta Mills High Street, the Asafoatse Nettey Road, Kinbu Gardens through Octagon and Circle to Kaneshie First Light to keep the streets clean on a daily basis.
Speaking at the launch of the initiative on Wednesday, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the AMA, Elizabeth Sackey, commended betPawa for coming on board to support the initiative which would go a long way to protect Ghanaians.
“I call on other stakeholders to come on board to support this laudable project. I also urge other sister districts to join hands with the AMA to make Greater Accra the cleanest city in Africa as envisaged by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo,” she stated.
She explained that the initiative was not a duplication of role but rather aimed at complementing “Operation Clean Your Frontage” campaign by the Greater Accra Regional Minister, Mr Henry Quartey.
“The street sweeping team would also be supported by the Public Health Department who would enforce the bye-laws. All stakeholders, especially hawkers and traders, should support the exercise,” she stated.
She added that a special allowance package had been arranged for the staff, while law enforcement would be intensified to deal with recalcitrant persons who would flout the Assembly’s bye-laws.
She said they were committed to sustaining the initiative to keep the city clean and protect the citizenry from illness.
The Country Consultant for betPawa, Mr Jesse Agyepong, said they believed in empowering people, adding that “there is no simpler or more powerful way to change millions of lives for the better than improving sanitation”.
In light of that, he said betPawa had contributed 200 coats, 100 raincoats and 100 waste bins to support the initiative.
“But like the betPawa Premier League, teamwork is the key to success and everyone within the AMA and beyond must play their part in making this a winning effort,” he stated.
He added that betPawa was committed to making a positive long-term difference in sanitation and other areas of daily life.
BY MICHAEL D.ABAYATEYE
