The Krontihene of Sunyani Traditional Council, Oboaman Bofotia Boamponsem II, has maintained that strict enforcement of sanitation bye-laws devoid of political interference could go a long way in dealing with sanitation challenges facing the country.
He explained that ensuring strict compliance of sanitation bye-laws by the various District Assemblies as well as imbibing in the younger generation the culture of environmental cleanliness could be a panacea in addressing the issue bedeviling the country.
The chief was speaking in an interview with the media on the sidelines of Graphic/Zoomlion Sanitation Awareness Cleanup exercise in Sunyani, the Bono regional capital on Saturday.
The exercise forms part of Graphic/Zoomlion ongoing sanitation awareness campaigns across the regions which started in April this year.
The Krontihene together with personnel from the Ghana National Fire Service, Zoomlion and some market women cleaned, desilted choked gutters at the main street of Sunyani central market, lorry station and principal streets of Sunyani.
The exercise lasted for about four hours.
This was preceded by a sanitation dialogue which brought together stakeholders from relevant sectors to drive behavioural changes among the people to see sanitation as a shared responsibility.
The chief, however, appealed to leadership at all levels to partner government in addressing sanitation issues indicating that, “this will enhance productivity among citizens in the country.”
The Sunyani Municipal Environmental Officer, Daniel Owusu Korkor, said lack of adequate support to his office has hampered efforts to deal with filth in Sunyani Area.
He said over the years various governments have failed to resource the environmental unit of the assemblies making it difficult to perform their functions effectively.
Mr Korkor added that lack of political will has affected laudable plans by his office in dealing with sanitation issues in the Sunyani Municipality.
The Editor of Daily Graphic Mr Kobby Asmah, in a speech read for him said the sanitation awareness campaign programme was part of the company’s strategy to be more impactful to the people they serve.
The programme, he noted was also aimed at creating the necessary awareness as well as changing the poor attitude of Ghanaians towards sanitation issues in the country.
The senior communication officer of Zoomlion, Adams Mahama, said the company was constructing a multi-purpose treatment plant at Wawasua in the Sunyani West District to enhance the cutting of refuse within the region.
He called on the people in the Bono Region to take advantage of the one million dustbin distribution by the company to keep the environment clean.
FROM DANIEL DZIRASAH, SUNYANI
