Mr. Thomas Moore Zonyrah, District Chief Executive (DCE) for Central Tongu District hinted that the Assembly will start prosecuting households without toilet facilities.

“Defection in the bush, along river banks, by roadside and in polythene bags has become common in the District and we would soon get some people prosecuted,” he said.

Mr Zonyrah, who was speaking at the 35th District Farmers Day celebration held in Bakpa Avedo in the Central Tongu District of the Volta Region, said the practice of open defecation was dehumanizing and must be stopped because it made the District prone to diseases.

“How our District continue to grab the headlines with the increasing rate of poor sanitation and teenage pregnancy is taking a heavy toll on development. We should prioritize building of latrines just as we are concerned about building a bathhouse. Every household should endeavor to have at least one latrine,” Mr Zonyrah said.

The DCE said Environmental Health Officers would intensify house to house inspections and anyone found to contravene the law would be dealt with accordingly.

He congratulated the award winners especially Mr. Edward Kakah Awuku for being the Regional Overall Best Farmer.

A total of 14 farmers were awarded in various categories with prices including table top refrigerators, pairs of wellington boots, cutlasses, knapsap sprayer and certificates.

The 35th Farmers’ Day celebration was on the theme, “Enhancing Small Scale Agriculture Towards Agribusiness Development”.