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Goaso Traditional Council to sanction residents who threaten health officials

The ‘Omanhene’ of Goaso Traditional Area, Nana Kwasi Bosompra has authorized sanitary inspectors to summon and punish all persons who violate sanitation and environmental laws without fear.

Date Created : 8/31/2021 12:00:00 AM : Story Author : Michael Kwaku Owusu/Ghanadistricts.com

The Chief has also promised to officially issue a statement to punish residents who threaten officials with physical or spiritual powers.

This was made known by the Krontihene, Nana Kwadwo Kuma Yenhyira on behalf of the Omanhene at a panel discussion on sanitation awareness campaign organized by the Graphic Communications Group Limited and Sanitation giant Zoomlion in Goaso, when the region took its turn at the recently launched Sanitation Awareness Campaign across the country.

In his remarks, the Omanhene of Goaso, Nana Bosompra commended the participants for their rich contributions but was quick to add that the success of the initiative begins with all stakeholders and tasked them to show commitment and dedication to their work.

He emphasized the introduction of awards schemes to schools and emphasized the importance of sanitation to the health of the economy and hoped all stakeholders will join forces with the organizers to promote health awareness.

The Omanhene however, lamented over the poor and bad nature of roads in the region and explained it affects collection and transportation of waste to the disposal sites and further lamented the wanton destruction of public buildings and facilities by public/ civil servants and commended the Forestry Commission for good maintenance culture.

The Chief Director at the Ahafo Regional Coordinating Council (ARCC), Mr. Ebenezer Amoah, cautioned stakeholders to be mindful of their activities and attitudes.

He noted the ARCC was in the process of meeting all MDAs to fashion out measures to combat insanitary conditions in the communities as well as to ban the community containers and promote the use of household bins.

He tasked environmental officers to strictly enforce the laws, ensure all houses have soaked away and encouraged residents to contact their assemblies for refuse bins.

On the part of the Regional Director of Zoomlion, he noted his outfit has a mandate to effectively manage waste and ensure environmental cleanliness in the country and therefore has been playing that role over the years through; waste collection, distribution of containers and household bins and disinfection and Fumigation exercise and urged individuals and institutions to contact his outfit for such services.

He mentioned that trucks will soon be distributed to the assemblies to help in the charting of waste generated to the plant site for recycling into compost and fertilizer.

He commended the chiefs and people of the region for giving them a litigation free land for the construction of the plant.

He also called for the intensification of public education on issues of sanitation and environment and pledged his company readiness to intensify household refuse collection as population outstrips the container system.

The Regional Health Director, Dr. Boakye Boateng, for his part admitted health promotion, sanitation and environmental conservation was a collective duty and called on all participants and stakeholders to effectively contribute and demonstrate commitment to such an important initiative for it to succeed.

He shared his experience from Rwanda and wondered why Ghana could not emulate their example saying the 80 percent universal coverage target for the country could become a mirage if there is no attitudinal change in residents.

He observed that eventhough COVID_19 has impacted negatively on the economy, it has equally taught us a bitter lesson as the compliance to the protocols has resulted in the reduction of cholera cases.

Dr. Boateng also called for collaboration amongst stakeholders and intensification of public education. He supported the view that strict enforcement of laws was the right way to go and urged authorities in charge to apply the law without fear or favour.

The Municipal Chief Executive Officer (MCE) of Asunafo North, Osei Yaw Boahen, at panel discussion outlined measures the assemblies were putting in place to promote sanitation and preserve the environment.

The MCE, however, lamented the following challenges were affecting the smooth execution of the project.

He therefore appealed for public support to accomplish the task ahead.