VR DCEs meet on sanitation

Ho, Mar. 4, GNA - District Assemblies in the Volta region have been tasked to apply existing sanitation regulations, which empower them to hold owners of properties responsible for any form of litter around their premises to ensure a clean environment.

Mr Albert Kpodo, Volta Regional Environmental Health Officer, made the call when he briefed a meeting of District Chief Executives in the Region at Ho on Wednesday, on ways to tackle sanitation in the region. He explained that owners and occupants are legally responsible for maintaining good sanitation conditions around their premises since they are deemed to be the ones who have littered their premises if they could not find the offenders.

He said "refuse thrown out of moving vehicles should be deemed to be committed by the driver of the vehicle if he cannot point out the one who has committed the nuisance".

Mr Kpodo said in addition to their responsibility of operating public cleansing and refuse collection, District Assemblies also had to ensure that owners and occupants discharged their responsibilities.

He noted that, "the civilisation of a nation is not measured only by the wealth of that nation, but also by the efficient and effective manner that the nation is able to dispose of its waste".

Mr Kpodo said it was in this vein that all District Assemblies and the citizenry should take President J. A. Kufuor's admonishing that the country sets its "standards high", as "the filth in our towns and cities is unacceptable".

During discussions the DCEs were of the consensus that their respective environmental sanitation officers prior to the strict enforcement of sanitation regulations should undertake a vigorous public education campaign.

They underscored the need for improve investment in refuse disposal by providing litter containers at vantage points and additional employment of sanitary workers to handle waste disposal.

The main area of concern to the DCEs was the disposal of polythene bags and allied rubber containers, which constitute the problem of waste disposal in the districts.

The DCEs expressed worry at the tendency for people to attack public-spirited persons who make efforts to get others to act responsibly in the disposal of litter.

The meeting chaired by Mr Kwasi Owusu-Yeboa, Volta Regional Minister and attended by Mr Kofi Dzamesi, Deputy Volta Regional Minister and Mr Kenwuud Nuworsu, Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), later went into close door meeting to discuss issues pertaining to the conduct of the DCEs, in general and during the voters registration exercise.

Other issues included security in conflict areas, the DCEs and their relation to the Police and how to oversee the work of decentralised departments within their jurisdictions. 04 Mar. 04