Accra, July 30, GNA - Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA), on Friday commenced work on the construction of 42 twenty-seater Water Closet Public Toilets at Jomo in La Sub-Metro in Accra, to kick-start the Accra Sewerage Improvement Project (ASIP).

The African Development Bank (AfDB) funded project is to expand the existing central sewerage system to cover most parts of the metropolis and assist about 4,200 households living in areas to be connected to the sewerage network.

Mr Alfred Okoe Vanderpuije, Chief Executive Officer of AMA, who cut the sod for work to commence, said that with the elevation of Accra to the status of a millennium city, there was the need to ensure that every household had its own toilet facilities.

"Accra is now a crown Jewel Millennium City, and we must aim at going beyond public toilets, and ensuring that every household in Accra has its own toilet facilities, including all offices, stores and commercial houses, recreational centres, market places, schools, hospitals and all places where people converge to transact business".

Mr Vanderpuije reiterated AMA's commitment to improve the living standards of the people in line with the assembly's mission statement.

"Rome was not built in a day and so we would continue to give off the best until we get to the expected end," he said.

The Accra Mayor said AMA deemed it "highly deplorable" that a survey last year revealed that 74 per cent of the city's inhabitants needed adequate toilet and sanitation facilities.

He said to meet the people's needs in accordance with the millennium city agenda, the assembly was determined to provide highly hygienically managed facility to meet the health needs of the people

Mr Vanderpuije said "AMA is considering a 24-hour water availability system that is hygienically maintained".

He appealed to the people to bear with the assembly as it sought to improve facilities in the city and the demolition of structures on waterways was for the betterment of Accra and the country.