The Member of Parliament for Evalue Ajomoro Gwira Constituency in the Western Region, Hon. Catherine Afeku popularly known as 'Nzema Yaa Asantewaa' has commissioned a 12- Seater water closet toilet facility for the people of Bankyim, a suburb of Axim.

The facility forms part of her 2016 electioneering campaign pledge to fight against the open defecation menace in the area.

The facility has a well-furnished office where the attendants would comfortably operate from.

The 12-seater water closet toilet facility has been divided into two for both males and females.

Additionally, there is space where toiletries and other stationery that would be used at the facility could be kept safely.

Speaking at the short but colourful ceremony to officially commission the project, the Par for the MP who is also the Minister for Tourism, thanked the community for their patience and cooperation.

She bemoaned how the community has been in dire need of toilet facility for over three decades.

She stated leaders of this country should use political power given to change the lives of the electorates.

Hon Afeku mentioned that the facility was for the whole community and others who would desire to use it, and, therefore, it should not be given any political correlation.

She said that her desire had always been to be able to improve the lives of his constituents and the municipality at large.

She opined “Luckily for us, our constituency is one of the best tourist sites in the country, but how well are we keeping our environment?”

“I think that we should be able win the fight against the open defecation menace in this great municipality, hence, my resolve to construct this facility here. It forms part of my interventions, as far as the fight is concerned,” she continued.

She further appealed to the community to see the project as their bona fide property and take good care of it, so as to prolong its lifespan.

She used the occasion to reveal to the people that government is on course to construct more toilet facilities across the country most especially communities along the coast to ease the open defecation.

On his part, the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), Hon. Frank Okpenyen expressed his profound gratitude to the MP for the kind gesture extended to the residents.

He also thanked the residents for supporting the contractor to complete the project on schedule.

The MCE said money that would be corrected from the facility will be used to construct new ones for other communities and appealed to the people to pay for the use of the facility, so that some money could be raised for its maintenance.

He cautioned that there should be no excuse for anybody within the municipality to engage in open defecation, stressing that any culprit found would be made to face the law.

He advised the people to maintain sound hygienic behaviour, and keep their natural surroundings clean, to stem the outbreak of fatal diseases, like Cholera, especially along the coast.

According to the MCE, it was critical to construct this place of convenience for the inhabitants in order to maintain high level of sanity and hygiene.

He was also confident that the facility would go a long way to help deal with open defecation.

The Regent of Bankyim, Tufuhene Francis Cudjoe, thanked Hon. Catherine Afeku for her swift intervention to build the facility when the community petitioned her office.

Tufuhene Cudjoe revealed that the community has been in dire need of toilet facility for good 32 years.

"Today we are very happy that we have seen this ultramodern toilet facility because 32 years now we have been crying for this and we have made several appeals to previous MPs but our appeals couldn't see the light of the day, so we thank Hon. Catherine Afeku for this kind gesture", he stressed.

He said the project will be well maintained, to prolong its life span.

On his part, the Assembly Member for the area, Hon. Mathew Essien thanked Hon. Catherine Afeku for the kind gesture.

"I am very happy for this toilet facility and I support it because my people have been crying for this project and it will help to ease open defecation in my area", he excited.

He urged his people to be peaceful and united to rally behind the MP for development.

"Let's do away with partisan politics and support development because politics is about development not divide people and let me use this opportunity that I Essien will not contest again as your Assembly Member again so let's support who is coming to be our Assembly Member", he said.

Subsequently, the MP for the area was assisted by the MCE and her constituency executives to cut sod for the construction of an ultra-modern community shed for area (Bankyim)

During the sod cutting ceremony, Hon. Catherine Afeku revealed that these projects are just a tip of iceberg adding that more to be done for the Bankyim community.

Hon. Catherine Afeku continued to Kokuado to commission a community shed for gathering purpose.

She used to opportunity to highlight some of the projects through her effort the NPP government has brought to the Constituency.

She mentioned the construction of a Sea Defence Wall at Axim, construction of an ultra-modern sports complex at Axim, DVLA office at Ayisakro, construction of Axim township roads, rehabilitation of Axim Victoria Park into Ceremonial Grounds among others.

She said these projects have given jobs to the youth in the Constituency.

She, therefore used the opportunity to appeal to the people to rally behind President Akufo-Addo government and pray for the president to live long.

She assured the people that government will bring more development projects to their doorsteps, and appealed to them to be a little patient.

The Assembly Member for the area, Hon. Hon Benjamin Kankah expressed his profound appreciation to the MP for the area for the kind gesture extended to his people and appealed to his people to support her to bring more developments to his area.

He also used the ceremony to thank the MP for engaging some of his youth as labours of the construction of the Axim township roads.

Some of the residents who thronged to witness the occasion, praised the MP for the initiative and also appealed for more.