ZoomLion takes another giant step… 157 sanitation guards trained for W/R
WASTE Management experts, ZoomLion Ghana Limited, has trained about 157 sanitation guards in the Western Region to improve sanitation in all the 17 districts, including the Sekondi Takoradi Metropolitan area.
The sanitation guards, according to the company, would also be responsible for educating the general public on the best methods and practices on sanitation, with the aim of at bringing about the needed positive change in hygienic practices among the people in the region.
The company said the guards would also work to improve the poor attitude towards the environment by the people, as a result of indiscipline and other negative environmental practices that continue to hinder positive environmental development in the region.
Mr. Felix Boankrah, Western Regional Operations Supervisor of the company, explained the essence of the sanitation guards, and why the company decided come up with this idea: “They will continue to embark on public education on sanitation, to create awareness among the people towards the change of attitude that we all desire against the indiscriminate littering.”
At a colourful ceremony recently, to inaugurate the first batch of sanitation guards at the forecourt of the Sekondi Takoradi Metropolitan Assembly, the Operations Supervisor enumerated the initiatives of the company: “Among a range of services the region benefits from ZoomLion are, tricycle concept in public cleansing and pre-collection services, solid waste collection, door to door, communal container, heap evacuation services, liquid waste (septic tank emptying/de-sludging) service, public cleansing (street/pavement sweeping and drain cleansing) services, operation and maintenance of landfill/final dump site, landscaping, beautification and horticultural services, etc.”
According to the Supervisor, ZoomLion Ghana, as a private sector player, was prepared to partner government and other industry players in the private sector, to tackle the problem of sanitation confronting the country.
The Western Regional Minister, Mr. Paul Evans Aidoo, in a key note address, eulogised ZoomLion for its leading role in improving on the poor sanitation condition in the country, and as well helping to bring about a drastic change of attitude among Ghanaians.
He said the company had done well for offering the youth of the country the opportunity to be trained as professionals in the field of Environmental Health Services.
He further stated that the best initiatives adopted by the company, to tackle the sanitation problem in the country, are not only laudable in the fight against poor hygienic practices, but had the potential of creating jobs for the teeming unemployed youth in the country.
In the same way, it would increase the coverage of environmental sanitation services in the country.
Mr. Aidoo underscored the need for communities to sustain such environmental health practices to support the health insurance programme in the country to succeed, instead of indiscriminate disposal of waste that would breed diseases to further compound the challenges of the scheme.
Mr. David Yaro, Regional Coordinating Director, who chaired the function, advised the sanitation guards to be mindful of the challenges of their work, urging them to adopt good measures to educate the general public to recognise the importance of good sanitary practices, as against poor practices that would continue to remain a major problem confronting this country.
He also turned his attention to the various assemblies in the region, appealing to the authorities to ensure full implementation of their bye-laws. “One aspect of the sanitation failure in this region is the lack of proper implementation of our bye-laws,” he pointed out.
Mr. Yaro also reiterated the need for an attitudinal change among Ghanaians, particularly the people of the region.
He said if good attitudinal measures were properly observed by the people, ZoomLion could work effectively to keep the environment clean.