A United States company is to process and convert about 500,000 tonnes of waste into electricity and purified water, Mr Akwasi Osei-Adjei, Deputy Minister for Trade and Industry said this in Accra on Wednesday.

He said the processing would be done on barges on the high sea to generate heat to propel turbines to convert the steam into electricity while a process of distillation would be done for the production of purified water.

Mr. Osei-Adjei said this when contributing to a statement issued in Parliament by Mr. Brandford D. Adu, Member of Parliament for Okere about the sanitation crisis facing the country.

He said if the process became successful, it was likely that the country would have to import garbage from neighbouring countries for processing to ensure its sustainability.

Mr. Peter Ala Adjetey, Speaker of Parliament said the issue of sanitation is of an emergency nature of life and death facing the people, which therefore, calls for immediate solutions to be found.

He called for the joint committee on Health and Local Government and Rural Development to find suitable ways of tackling the issue and to advise parliament on measures to be taken.

The Speaker said there was the need for sector ministers to be always around to provide answers to statements and urgent questions in the House, since it was not for nothing that the constitution stipulates that a third of ministers should come from the House.

Mr J. H. Mensah, Senior Minister and Chairman of the Government Economic Team said the degree of filth in the towns and cities was of concern to the government and is a subject, which demands immediate action.

He said the government was to spend between two to three billion cedis to organise about 25,000 youngsters to clean-up the country and called for suggestions and ideas from Parliament and civil society as to how to come to a lasting solution to the problem.

Mr. Stephen Manu Balado, NPP-Ahafo Ano South said it was not prudent for the nation to be engulfed in filth in view of not only the health aspects of the people, but the effort at attracting tourists. He said the activities of human scavengers must be checked since they pose a great danger of spreading diseases through their activities.

Mr Balado said the "Golden Age of Business would not be achieved if there is no good sanitation practices in the communities and suggested the need for re-introduction of hygiene in the school curriculum.

Mr David Yaw Mensah, NDC- Atebubu North said the attitude of some people in the communities on sanitation issues was appalling as they are indifferent to its consequences.

He therefore, called for public education to revive the communal spirit of the people and ensure the clearance of the garbage across the country. Mr Alex Kwaku Korankye, NPP-Asante Akim South said there was the need for clean-up exercises are maintained and for drastic measures to be taken against offenders who litter about.

Mr Victor Gbeho, Ind-Anlo said poor sanitation relates largely to waste disposal from the home and the economic position of the people since the influx of traders into the cities who even sell around traffic lights are a major source of garbage collection.

Mrs Gifty Eugene Kusi, NPP-Tarkwa-Nsuaem said children are mostly the culprits but because they do not easy access to toilet facilities both at home and in the schools and therefore defecate anywhere.

Mr. Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo, NDC-Fanteakwa said there was the need for the unit and area councils to be empowered to play their expected role of maintaining good sanitation in their communities.

Dr Kwame Ampofo, NDC- South Dayi said there should be political will to adopt new technologies in waste management, construct miniature sanitation facilities and for a look at scientific reports on waste management.

Mrs Edith Hazel, NDC- Evalue-Gwira expressed concern about the unhealthy sight of the beaches which she said are engulfed with filth and should attract the concern of the government.