The Brong-Ahafo Regional Manager of Zoomlion Mr. Kofi Sekyere-Boateng has stated that sanitation was among the powerful drivers of a nation’s development because it affected the quality of life and productivity of the people.

He pointed out that poor sanitation contributed to poor health and low productivity among the people.

Mr Sekyere-Boateng said the company had therefore deployed about 1,500 workers, made up of 50 people from each of the 27 Municipal and District Assemblies to form the Regional Task Force.

Mr. Sekyere-Boateng said this when inaugurating the Task Force in Sunyani.

He said efforts of the task force would be augmented by workers under the National Youth Employment Programme and other subsidiaries of the assemblies to desilt choked drains and clear refuse in communities as well as provide education to the public on the need to practice good environmental hygiene. Meanwhile, Hon. Kwadwo Nyamekye-Marfo, Brong-Ahafo Regional Minister also urged the Regional Sanitation Task Force to work with zeal and commitment to ensure the success of the programme. He asked the members not to make financial remuneration their ulterior motive for the programme, and should exhibit love for the job and work with passion in the interest of the people within their localities.

He charged Municipal and District Chief Executives to generate personal interest in the activities of the Task Force in order to enable them operate efficiently and effectively.

He presented tools and equipment provided by Zoomlion Ghana Limited, a sanitation company, under the auspices of Zoom Alliance to facilitate its operations but the cost was not disclosed.

The equipment comprised 22 motorbikes, 22 motor kings, 5,000 hand gloves, 2,000 nose masks, 220 shovels, 80 wheel barrows, 1,200 Wellington boots, 1,000 reflective jackets, 22 spraying machines, 600 machetes, 600 bending cutlasses, 60 streets brushes and 7000 Alibrooms.

The task force is in fulfillment of President John Dramani Mahama’s policy statement at the launch of the National Sanitation Task Force on September 12, in Accra to tackle and rid the country of sanitation problems under a three-month programme.

The Regional Minister explained that management of the country’s sanitation and environment required collaboration with the private sector therefore, the Government in 2009 ceded about 80 per cent of the responsibility to the private sector for efficient management to improve on sanitation.