The influx of companies and the increasing population in the Ellembelle District of the Western Region has necessitated proper sanitation and environmental management.

The district has become an investment destination for many companies, in view of the oil and gas exploration on the Jubilee Field, as well as the on-going Atuabo Gas Infrastructure Project.

Mr. Daniel Kamatu Eshun, Ellembelle District Chief Executive (DCE), told a stakeholders’ meeting at Nkroful on Friday that the district was positioning itself to deal with, and mitigate sanitation and environmental challenges.

The event brought together stakeholders in education, energy, waste and sanitation companies in the district, to brainstorm and strategize on proper sanitation management.

The DCE said the Local Government Act, (Act 462) of 1993, mandates the Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) to ensure proper waste and sanitation management.

Mr. Eshun noted that sanitation had direct impact on the health of the people, and therefore the need for proactive measures to halt any sanitation-related diseases.

The DCE disclosed that the district has about 15 sachet water producing companies which is a recipe for plastic waste menace.

He said although there were two un-engineered landfill sites at Ampain and Nkroful for solid waste disposal, there was no waste treatment plant and septic emptier to dispose of liquid waste.

Therefore, he said, there was the need for all corporate bodies in the district to come on board to find solutions to sanitation and environmental issues.

The District Environmental Officer, Mr. Ted Tettey, said the Assembly spends GH¢ 72, 000 on refuse collection and GH¢ 11, 250 on disposal sites maintenance every quarter, thus putting pressure on it’s resources.

He complained about inadequate staff and logistics for effective monitoring and supervision of seven area councils within the district, and said this was hampering proper sanitation management.

The Environmental Officer mentioned malaria, dysentery and cholera as some sanitation-related diseases, and advocated collective efforts of all stakeholders to deal decisively with the challenges.

He indicated that a United Nations International Children’s Education Fund (UNICEF) Report revealed that 82,000 children worldwide die from sanitation-related diseases before age five.

GNA