By Clement Akoloh
“We Will Use Abogbloshie As Shock Therapy To Show Ghanaian Capacity” – Local Government Minister
The Minister for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, Hon. Mahama Ayariga, has declared himself a crusader in the Christian Council of Ghana’s mindset transformation for nation-building crusade.
“In ancient times when the crusaders were passing, men of faith simply went in, adorned their armour and joined the crusade. I heard about join the crusade. So I will join you. You will go to the schools, the basic schools, the secondary schools, the universities,” he said.
Speaking at the official launch of the Second Ecumenical Convention, Hon. Ayariga said the decision to clear the mountain of waste at Abogbloshie, taken together with the Finance Minister, Roads Minister and Defence Minister, is to demonstrate that the abnormal should not be normalized.
“People have come to a point where they just assume that that is normal. We want to demonstrate that that is not normal… People look at how high the heap is and they think it is an impossibility to move that heap away from there. But that is because they don’t know the capacity of Ghanaians,” he said.
He cited galamsey sites where determined young people dig heaps higher than Abogbloshie without heavy equipment.
“I have seen galamsey sites where young people determined to find gold have dug heaps higher than what you are seeing at Abogbloshie… In Europe you will not see human beings dig such volumes of material out of the bowels of the earth without using heavy earth-moving equipment. But our determined young people will dig volumes far higher than the heap at Abogbloshie. And it tells me that the Ghanaian is actually capable,” he stated.
He said clearing Abogbloshie will be a demonstration effect and shock therapy.
“If we can clear that heap, no Ghanaian will feel disabled about clearing the small waste in their immediate neighbourhoods,” he said.
Hon. Ayariga commended the Council for administering an oath based on Article 41(k) of the 1992 Constitution which speaks to citizens’ duty to protect the environment, describing the Constitution as Ghana’s Bible.
He praised the Council for working on the mindsets of the upcoming generation to grow with strong values on environmental issues and creation care, giving practical meaning to biblical text and Christian theology.
Source: parliamentnews360.com
