NGO Sensitises Kronum Residents About Environmental Issues

A training workshop on how to improve upon sanitation has been organised for community members of Kronum, in Kumasi.

It was organised by the Society of the Friends of Abuobria, Ashanti and Ghana (SOFAAG), a non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), based in Kumasi.

SOFAAG works in collaboration with the Ministry of Health, Ghana Education Service and other groups to offer health education training to community members who will reach people at the grassroots level to preach the gospel of sanitation.

It also assists persons who are in distress, poverty and gives sponsorship in education including distant learning.

Topics treated at the workshop included sanitation and hygiene and economic effect of sanitation.

Opening the workshop, Mr Emmanuel Arhin, chairman of SOFAAG, said SOFAAG aimed at putting communities on track to achieve sanitation through advocacy and awareness building.

He said SOFFAC recognised the importance of sanitation in achievement of the Millennium Development Goals and said it was proper for all Ghanaians to come together to improve disposal of human waste among the lots in the various communities.

Mr Justice Acheampong, programme officer of the Health Education Unit of the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly, noted that improved sanitation had positive impacts on economic growth and poverty reduction.

He said there was the need for effective action to scale up sanitation programmes and strengthen sanitation process to ensure sanitation becomes a good economic investment.

Mr Acheampong referred to the landfill site at Oti in Kumasi, where waste (refuse) are to be treated for electricity and said many household farmers would one day benefit from solid waste as they could be bought for the project.

He urged the 20 participants, to go to the rural areas to educate the people on the importance of hand washing before eating to improve on their health conditions.

He tasked them to go to the schools to ensure cleanliness in the environment.

SOFAAG was founded in March 2007 by Nana Darkoh Mprah, II and has been spreading health promotion message throughout Ashanti Region.

It offers Ghanaian students the opportunity to pursue higher education by distance learning through Wamborough College Canterbury in the United Kingdom.

SOFAAG has also set up health education classes for mothers with babies and young children at Eben International School, Kumasi.