The Minister for Sanitation and Water Resources, Cecilia Abena Dapaah has justified the introduction of the sanitation tax noting that it is critical to the clean Ghana agenda.

The government in the 2021 Budget and Economic Statement proposed the introduction of a 10 pesewas Sanitation and Pollution Levy to help address the issues of sanitation in the country.

This is expected to ensure sustainable sanitation management practices, improve the quality of life and reduce the number of deaths and diseases from poor sanitation.

The introduction of the levy has, however, been met with opposition from a section of the public who see it as an attempt to overburden the already burdened Ghanaian.

But speaking to the press after Parliament approved an amount of GH₵560 million in the budget estimate for the services of the Ministry for the 2021 fiscal year, the Sanitation and Water Resources Minister contends that the levy is a "necessary evil".

Cecelia Dapaah also urged the public to support government’s efforts to address sanitation issues confronting the country.

But responding to the issues, the Minority spokesperson on Roads and Transport, Kwame Agbodza Governs complained that the Ministry has failed to address the country's sanitation issues.

He added that the introduction of sanitation tax is not a panacea to addressing plastic menace in Ghana.

"A bulk of solid waste or menace in our country is plastic. The government's solution is 'let's build more waste plants'. And we are saying 'think outside the box'. In other countries, they have other way and so we ask, 'Where is your plastic policy?' She said they are developing it.

'But their policy does not result in the reduction of the plastic menace. So the issue we are asking is, when is that going to be available? He asked.

He believes that the government charging the citizenry 10 pesewas to address the plastic menace "will not work".

"The government's solution is to charge you and I the motorist 10 pesewas. So that they can address this. It will not work. It will just increase the waste".

He also wants part of the Sanitation and Pollution levy to be allocated to the National Road Safety Authority (NRCA) to sensitize motorists since the taxes will be paid by drivers.