By Lawrence Odoom
Vice President Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang has issued a clarion call for collective responsibility in sanitation, cautioning that the country’s recurring flood crises are being compounded less by nature alone and more by human negligence.
Addressing residents during a community clean-up exercise in Nungua on Thursday, as part of the ongoing National Clean-up Exercise, the Vice President underscored that environmental degradation is largely self-inflicted.
“We are here because something has gone wrong,” she told journalists.
Prof. Opoku-Agyemang argued that indiscriminate waste disposal has become a direct catalyst for disaster. By choking drainage systems, discarded refuse obstructs the natural flow of water and leaves vulnerable communities exposed.
“A lot of it is something that you and I have caused. We know that nature will do its own thing, but sometimes we also contribute negatively to the outcomes.”
She drew attention to the moral dimension of the problem, noting that the consequences often fall on those least responsible.
“There are times when even the person who suffers may not necessarily have been the one who caused the damage. When we throw garbage into our drains, maybe that is the reason why somebody’s house is finally flooded because we are blocking the water from taking its natural course,” she said.
The Vice President framed the clean-up drive as more than a symbolic gesture. She described it as a timely reminder that flood mitigation begins at the individual level, with disciplined sanitation practices and civic accountability.
“We all know the right things. We don’t need any sermon. We know. Let’s do the right things and protect each other and protect our country,” she said.
Prof. Opoku-Agyemang commended volunteers and residents who turned out for the exercise, hailing their participation as a vital expression of solidarity and national duty.
“I want to thank you all for coming out to help because there’s a time we should all show love,” she said.
The National Clean-up Exercise continues across the country with support from government agencies and private partners, as authorities intensify efforts to curb flooding ahead of the peak rainy season.