Regional News of Friday, 17 October 2014

Source: GNA

Okyenhene calls for decentralisation of sanitation management

Osagyefo Amoatia Ofori Panin, Okyenhene and Chairman of the Eastern Regional House of Chiefs, has called for the decentralisation of sanitation management to promote clean environment.

The Okyenhene made the call when Mr Julius Debrah, Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, paid a courtesy call on him at his palace at Kyebi in the Eastern Region.

Osagyefo Amoatia Ofori Panin said instead of allowing the Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies to take charge of sanitation issues, the various communities should be zoned to enable the people to take over the management of their own sanitation.

He said such zones would bring competition as nobody would like to make their zones dirty and be declared as a filthy zone.

He said sanitation clubs should also be formed across the country to complement the work being carried out by government to make the environment clean.

The Okyenhene said indiscipline had led to the increase of filth in the country and tasked Ghanaians to develop a sense of belonging to make the country clean.

He also appealed to the Government to construct the Nsawan-Suhum Road which is in deplorable condition and is causing harm to drivers and passengers who ply the road.

Mr Julius Debrah commended the Okyenhene for his role in championing the course of sanitation in the country.

He said Government would on Friday, October 17, launch the National Sanitation Day programme which would be used to undertake a nationwide clean-up exercise on the first Saturday of every month starting from November this year.

He said Government was committed to ensure a clean environment and urged all Ghanaians to take part in the National Sanitation Day and make Ghana clean.