Regional News of Thursday, 1 September 2011

Source: Bernard Buachi

Techiman Makes Giant Leaps In Sanitation And Waste Management

In recognition of the importance of sanitation and environmental hygiene to human life and welfare, the Techiman Municipal Assembly has channeled a large chunk of its resources into enhancing sanitation and waste management within the municipality.

The Techiman Municipal Assembly under Hon. Alex Kyeremah, has since 2009, evacuated at least 39,135 tonnes of solid waste from various dumpsites. At least ten (10) communities have benefited from these massive waste evacuation exercises including Tunsuase,Dwomor, Dagombaline,Kenten, Wiaso among others. Some of these dumps have never been evacuated since their creation many years ago, and have been a major source of discomfort to residents since most of them are situated in residential areas.

In an interaction with the Chief Executive of the Techiman Municipality, he expresses optimism that the energy with which sanitation and hygiene issues are being tackled will not be a nine-day wonder, but would be sustained. He says two (2) tipper trucks, a grader and a pay-loader have been procured to help with waste management. He also explains that a pick-up truck has been released to the Environmental Health Department of the Municipal Assembly to aid monitoring and supervision of waste management activities and general hygiene. “In response to appeals from residents, seven (7) new refuse containers have also been constructed for the municipality.”

The MCE elaborates that the efforts extend beyond evacuation of solid waste, adding that, “presently four (4) septic tank Public toilets have been completed for Tanosom, Akrofrom, Sansama and Kenten Anyinabrem West ; suburbs of Techiman.”

The political head of the Municipality also reveals that sixty-four (64) sanitation guards, two hundred (200) zoomlion workers have been employed under the National Youth and Employment Programme to provide the extra manpower needed to fight filth in Techiman. Nineteen youth have also been employed to undertake mosquito spraying exercises within the municipality to eventually reduce the malaria prevalence.

He promises a constant monitoring and evaluation of waste management activities to make it more and more relevant to the residents of the Techiman Municipality.

-Bernard Buachi, Techiman