The Afigya-Kwabre District Assembly has embarked on an aggressive drive towards the provision of water and sanitation facilities to improve the environmental health of the area.

Already, it has assisted more than 330 schools and households with washrooms.

Mr. Kwaku Oppong-Kyekyeku Kaakyire, the District Chief Executive (DCE), said they are determined to end the situation where some people go to the fields to ease themselves.

They would ensure that the people have access to decent toilets to discourage open defecation.

He told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) that this was being done under public-private partnership arrangement and that the private sector’s response had been encouraging.

Reporters of the nation’s wire service had visited the district under STAR-Ghana’s sponsored media auditing and tracking of development projects, an initiative launched to put the spotlight on how government’s resources were helping to transform the lives of the people, particularly the rural population.

The goal is to aid transparency, promote accountability and good local governance.

Mr. Oppong-Kyekyeku said some private business operators have signed contracts with the assembly to put up public water-closet toilets at Nkukua-Buoho and Kodie.

These would be on “build, operate and transfer” basis and after some time, the facilities would come under the control of the beneficiary communities – they would run them to generate revenue to support their own development projects.

The DCE said, alongside the supply of sanitation facilities, the assembly has launched a vigorous health education in schools and the communities to raise awareness on keeping their surroundings clean.

The assembly’s other priority is to deliver safe drinking water to the people and is making good progress in that area.

Mr. Oppong-Kyekyeku said it had completed small town water projects at Kwaman, Atimatim Junction, Wawase, Mpobi, Ejuratia and Ankaase.