M-CODE call on Ministry of Sanitation to support fight against open defecation

The Media Coalition against Open Defecation has called on the Ministry of Sanitation and Water Resources to explore ways to support government in the fight against Open Defecation.

The Coalition, as part of its objective to support the crusade against open defecation through a coordinated and more aggressive policy influence and public sensitization, paid a courtesy call on the sector Minister Mrs Cecilia Dapaah, to build concerted efforts in combating the menace.

Mrs Cecilia Dapaah, the Minister of Sanitation and Water Resources, said open defecation could be stopped through national and individual efforts.

She said government was working hard to solve the problem through the provision of household toilets, adding that over 13,000 toilets facilities had so far been built.

On the issue of what could be done, she said logistics should be provided, adding that landlords should be persuaded to build toilets in their compounds and that tenants should also not rent houses without toilet facilities.

The dignity is to give every home a toilet Mrs Dapaah said, noting that, ’ your washroom should be a place where you can be able to eat or even drink coffee and if that is not done then there was a problem’.

“The ultimate is to have it eradicated but I cannot give a specific date,” she said when asked on a timeline to stop the problem.

She said the Ministry was working with the Ministry of Tourism, Ministry of Health and the Assemblies to ensure that all efforts in fulfilling the President’s agenda of making Accra the cleanest city would be realized, adding that soon there would be beach cleaners to ensure proper sanitation at the beaches.

She said the Ministry was in support of the good cause that the Coalition was pushing for, saying the Ministry doors would be opened at all times to receive the members.

Dr Doris Yaa Dartey, a Communication Consultant and a member of the National Media Commission, who is also the Patron of the Coalition, lauded the Minister’s pledge and commitment to collaborate with the Coalition to address the menace.

She said the challenge of open defecation after 61 years of Ghana’s independence was a disgrace and called for a quick action to address the menace because of its negative impact on tourism and health.

Dr Dartey said the Coalition would meet the Minister over its plans in the months ahead to firm up its relationship so that through its work society would be influenced to stop open defecation.