Government urged to check unhygienic conditions
The Akyem Abuakwa Queenmothers Association has called on the government to introduce punitive measures to check filth before the country faces a major disease out break.
The association is also calling for a directive that would compel food vendors not to expose their wares.
At their meeting at Ofori Panin Fie (Palace) at Kyebi on Saturday, the queen mothers deplored the sanitation situation in the country and its impact on the health of the people and appealed for swift action to remedy the situation.
The association said since toilets could help reduce by 50 per cent acute respiratory infections in the country, it is important for government to provide such facilities at all public places.
According to a United Nations Human Development report, only 18 per cent of Ghanaians have access to safe toilet facilities as at 2000.
The queen mothers appealed to the government to consider setting up plants for the recycling of waste to produce energy while at the same time urging their women to discourage the use of polythene bags.
Nana Adutwumwaa Dokuaa, the Okyenhemaa who is President of the Association, said many people are giving less tendering to their environment.
She appealed to women to stop using polythene bags for their shopping but rather rely on traditional baskets which pose no threat to the environment.
Mr Nathaniel Adams, the Chief Executive Officer of the Church of Christ Rural Water Development Project, said there was a need for other women to embrace the idea of the Akyem Abuakwa queens' in promoting sanitation.
Nana Asiedua Antwi Bosiako, Pramkesehemaa, asked her colleagues to take the leading role when it comes to sanitation issues in their community because environmental problems directly impact on women and their life's chances.