Kassena-Nankana West District Assembly pledges to sustain National Sanitation Day with a Task Force
The Assembly has developed sanitation by-laws, which are awaiting gazette. Once formalised, the by-laws will pave the way for the creation of a sanitation enforcement task force to ensure compliance.
The Kassena-Nankana West District Assembly in the Upper East Region has officially launched its monthly sanitation day campaign in line with President John Mahama’s National Sanitation initiative.
The maiden exercise, held on Saturday, September 21, brought together community members, organised groups, security services, and government agencies for a massive cleanup along the principal streets of the district capital, Paga.
District Chief Executive (DCE), Stephen Aeke Akurugo expressed optimism about replicating the exercise in other communities within the district, while calling for a change in attitude toward sanitation.
“This is part of the national exercise launched by the President. Today we are in Paga, but the next activity we will move to the eastern part, followed by the western part of the district, so we ensure all corners of the district are completely clean.” He said.
Akurugo revealed that the Assembly has developed sanitation by-laws, which are awaiting gazette. Once formalised, the by-laws will pave the way for the creation of a sanitation enforcement task force to ensure compliance.
“We have bylaws that were approved by the general assembly. When they are gazetted, that is where we will form the sanitation task force to enforce the sanitation laws.” He added.
The District Environmental Health Officer, Fataw Akomnaba, announced that receptacle containers and dustbins would soon be rolled out across the district, particularly in public institutions such as schools and hospitals, to improve waste management.
“Our attitude towards management is bad. We acknowledge the logistical challenges for people to get receptacles to manage waste at the household level or shops, so we need to develop financial modules that allow people to pay for waste generated or provide containers and make sure they manage the waste well.”
“As an assembly, we have made initial attempts to get containers for waste management and to purchase dustbins for institutions.” He added.
Chairman of the Paga Youth Movement, Wenawome Aborah, emphasised the importance of making sanitation a culture rather than a one-off event.
“This activity should be a culture that everybody should practice daily. If we had a culture of cleaning our environment, we would not have a day when we all have to come out to clean. When we don’t clean our environment, the health risk is higher.” He said.
Aborah further appealed to the District Assembly to speed up the establishment of the sanitation task force to enforce by-laws on sanitation.
Residents have meanwhile been reminded to strictly observe National Sanitation Day, held on the first Saturday of every month, by cleaning their homes and workplaces.
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