We will arrest any individual caught practising open defecation – Cecilia Dapaah
Minister for Sanitation and Water Resources, Cecilia Abena Dapaah says good hygiene saves lives and it is the duty of every individual to practice good hygiene.
Open defecation is one of the challenges the country faces, hence the ministry of sanitation, local government, and the assembly say they will ensure that the sanitation situation in the country is improved.
Hon. Cecilia Dapaah says sanitation is one of the most important priorities of the president which influenced him(president) to establish the sanitation ministry where they will help in promoting good hygiene in the country.
She stated that the lack of toilet facilities in houses is a major problem for both individuals and the country as a whole.
According to her, research indicates that to eradicate disease and improve good hygiene, there is the need for every house to have a toilet facility in order to put an end to open defecation.
Due to this, she stated that the government has tasked them along with the assembly and the local government to ensure the establishment of toilet facilities at home starting from the Greater Accra Region. Hon.
Cecilia Dapaah pleads with house owners to construct a toilet facility at their various homes as the ministry of sanitation and the assembly along with the local government embark on the 30,000 household toilet facilities in Ghana.
“We plead with house owners to build a toilet facility at their homes”. The Minister also criticized harshly individuals who practice open defecation and has stated that any individual caught in the act will face the authorities.
”We will arrest anyone caught in practicing open defecation” she said. She stated that measures are being taken in place to help promote good sanitation in the country.
According to her, there is going to be an establishment of 120 institutional ultra-modern toilet facilities that will be disability and gender-friendly in some institutions in the Grater Kumasi Metropolitan Area (GKMA).
She called on the assembly in municipalities to create an awareness that it is an offence to build with a toilet facility.
In a statement made by President Nana Addo in the year 2019 that Accra will be the cleanest city in Africa, when quizzed by Omanhene Yaw Adu Boakye on ‘Maakye’, on the progress of sanitation in the country, Hon. Cecilia Dapaah stated that sanitation primary is open defecation, and the collection of solid waste is the sole duty of the assembly.
According to her, the Sanitation Ministry monitors from the policy level ensuring its effectiveness. ” I usually move around to inspect communities where refuse has been dumped in the community, I take notes on that and immediately call people are responsible to ensure that.” ”synchronize times and ensure that there is an availability of vehicles to collect these refuse all the time” She said.
She said she has toured the assembly and along with Hon. Dan Botwe will have meetings with the new assembly members.
She also stated that there has been an improvement in the sanitation situation in the country but there is more to do.
Source: Kessbenonline.com/ Eunice Odai
