The Central Regional Minister, Mr Kwamena Duncan, has called on the central government to radicalise efforts at eradicating open defecation, saying the practice after 60 years of the nation’s independence is an indictment on the nation.
One in five Ghanaians practices open defecation, according to a World Bank report.
The nation spends $280 million on sanitation related diseases and loses $79 million on the effects of open defecation yearly.
Every region in the country practises open defecation and there is no district that is open defecation-free in the country.
Mr Duncan said the practice was dehumanising and costly and must not be allowed to go on.
He was speaking at the Central regional launch of the Social Norms Campaign dubbed: Open Defecation-Free (ODF) Ghana Campaign in Cape Coast, last Thursday.
Mr Duncan said Ghana as a nation must be blamed for not doing enough to work to eradicate the menace.
He said even more disturbing was the fact that not much efforts were being put in place to ensure that many places of convenience were built.
Leadership commended
Mrs Loretta Roberts of the United Nations Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) congratulated the government and the Ministry of Sanitation and Water Resources for the leadership shown in improving the sanitation situation in the country through the launch of the National Sanitation Campaign.
She explained that the ODF Ghana campaign was aimed at making Ghana open defecation-free by creating awareness of its dangers on the well-being of the people and to trigger a change in behaviour on negative sanitation practices.
She said the campaign did not only target those who practised open defecation but policy makers, service provides such as the environmental health officers, community development workers, health and education staff and the civil society.
Mrs Roberts appealed to the Central regional minister to put in place strategies and commit resources to achieve set targets.
Mr Theophilus Ribeiro of the Community Development Department said the campaign should get all to frown on open defecation and urged all stakeholders to do their best to significantly improve sanitation in the region and the country in general.
Urgent actions
The Omanhen of the Cape Coast Traditional Area, Osabarima Kwesi Atta, said open defecation called for drastic education and urgent action to change the attitudes and behaviours of the people.
Stakeholders attending the launch pledged their commitment to eradicate open defecation from the district by 2019.
Source: Daily Graphic
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Blame it on Napo the education minister. he is the chief advocate of open defecation
Attacking me will not solve the Open Defecation problem as long as people don't have toilets at the beaches and their homes. It is natural people need ease themselves. The fact that Kufour, NDC and HE. Atta Mills were not able to provide toilets does not mean Kwamena Duncan cannot build one. If visitors from Accra, Kumasi, Bolgatanga or Ivory Coast visit the beaches where do expect them to ease themselves. The sensible thing to do build the toilets at the beaches then you have the moral right complain. They are human beings they don't have toilets at their individual homes where do expect them to ease themselves. Build one or two toilets at the beaches which is a public place only when you see anyone defecating openly you can arrest and prosecute in court as a deterrent. It should be business as usual when you lambast Kwame Nkrumah till date for not providing toilets at the beaches. You have the nod ,you the power use it to Build the Toilets .I will rather build the toilets with the peoples money and go to jail than to allow them to die of cholera .
Mr Minister, When years ago former president Jerry Rawlings chastised the people of cape coast for open defeacation, you and your like rained insults at him. if you had then supported him, you wouldn't have come to meet this problem. "Woara akofa aba....."
The days when the NDC used people like Ama Banyiwa Doe, to throw dust into the eyes of Ghanaians especially the people of Central Region are over. Kufuor left middle income economy without oil. And God blessed him with oil. Kufour, (a non-fisherman), cut the sod for construction of 14 fishing harbors which Nyanyano, Winneba, Apam, Moree, Elimina, and others were beneficiaries. Kufuor and his NPP, handed all these developmental Oriented to the NDC, headed by a Fantiman(from fishing community) HE. Atta Mills and continued with his favorite successor John Mahama. What did you do with all those assets that people continue to defecate on our beaches?
Kwamena Duncan you have been in government for eleven months how many toilets have you built. The days when you sit at the radio stations to make noise is over. You have the power now use it to help your your own people, don't wait till they die they die before you contribute GH 5000 to their funerals. Use the money for funerals to build toilets.
I believe you are one of the people who defecate on the beaches. Yes, I see you in the picture. We have problems and the minister is talking about it and you says it’s “buulshit? I hope your NDC left Central Region enough money to just start providing free toilets in every house over night. Think before you talk.
mr radio concert minister be serious and do some work. propoganda talk on radio station is different thinking strategically and moving the whole of central region. time to work and stop the buulshit