[ 2014-09-22 ]

Minister wants Environmental Health bye-laws gazetted
Agona Swedru, GNA - The Central Regional Minister,
Mr Aquinas Tawiah Quansah, has directed local
assemblies in the region to gazette all bye-laws
on Environmental Health and Sanitation towards
curbing cholera and other filth-related health
hazards.

He has also asked for the updating of the District
Environmental Sanitation Strategy and Action Plans
(DESSAP) for evidence-based sanitation management
in all municipals, metropolitan areas and
districts (MMDs) to improve environmental
sanitation.

Mr Quansah was addressing the two-day conference
of the chief executives of the local assemblies in
the Central Region at Agona Swedru.

The conference is under the theme: “Improving
Sanitation –A concern for all”.

The Minister tasked the assemblies to monitor all
private services providers in environmental health
and sanitation properly to ensure that there was
value for money in the interest of the populace.

The assemblies, he said, should legally acquire
and properly document all their waste disposal
sites to prevent encroachment and litigation.

The Minister urged the MMDAs to conduct empirical
research on sustainable waste management models to
develop concrete systems to avoid poor
sanitation.

He stated that international and local
interventions had been put in place by the
government to ensure the achievement of the
Millennium Development Goal (MDGs) on Water and
Sanitation.

Mr Quansah said the Central Region, being a hub of
tourism in the country, would not allow open
defecation at its beaches.

He, therefore, charged the MMDAs, especially those
in the coastal areas, to ensure that their beaches
were clean to attract more tourists - both locals
and foreigners - to boost the economy.

Mr Samuel Oppong, Agona West Municipal Chief
Executive, and Dean of MMDCEs, commended the
Regional Minister for the development agenda
towards job creation for the youth.
He said the MMDCEs were fully prepared to ensure
the implementation of President’s directive to
set aside the last Saturday of the month to
undertake communal labour.

Source - GNA

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