Fighting Poor Sanitation Practices In The Northern Region

Sanitation comes in many ways. Cleanliness they say is next to Godliness. But it is a shame that, the very thing that is considered waste even by God, who expects us to conceal, is now being sprinkled around without shame. It is quite unfortunate that, the Tamale Metropolis is plagued with some behaviours that are appalling to even the very eyes that make them.

I am talking about the human excreta that we sprinkle everywhere without shame. It is obvious that, the few public toilets around have no use for people in the Metropolis.

The few public toilets, some people refer to them as “before bath” do not serve the purpose for which they were built hence they would rather use the backyard. Elsewhere, people even dig holes and cover them afterwards but no, not here in Tamale even though it has been adjudged on the neatest in the Country.

Talking a walk on some major roads in the metropolis, one cannot help but to seize your breath and quicken your pace. This is because the scent in the gutters is just too repulsive. In Tamale, you cannot build halfway and leave the rest for later. You will have to admit that, you have provided a toilet facility for the people around.

When quizzed on this plague, the municipal Chief Executive Alhaji Abdulai Haruna Friday admitted to the fact that, some would rather use the backyard instead of the toilet facilities but said it is common in the villages.

He added, it is just a matter of time. But the question is, must we be educated on the fact that, faeces is not a pleasant thing to be seen everywhere? Doesn't every one find it an ugly sight to behold? Honourable Friday also stressed the fact that, it is a challenge for his assembly.

He said Government and other partners are now encouraging household latrines because that will be more convenient. According to him 2013 is a year of what he describes as “war against indiscipline”. He expressed worry over some chiefs and some disgruntled 'foot soldiers' making work difficult for the Assembly and therefore appealed for a collaboration from all to ensure there is sanity in the area.

Isn't it a common knowledge that these human excreta can cause cholera outbreak? Does it not also generate unpleasant insects? Don't flies and other insects settle on it and then settle on our foods? Would we rather risk our lives than ease ourselves at the required places other than the gutters and our own surroundings?

I seem to have had high hopes that, this canker will soon be a thing of past when I spoke with a senior Officer at the Environmental Health and Sanitation Directorate of the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development, Mr Kweku Quansah.

But will all these measures be effective if we as citizens of the Metropolis fail to change our character? Even the children have also started picking up our traits.

It is horrifying and disgraceful when visitors visit the Metropolis only to be welcomed by these faeces. Let's help make the Tamale Metropolis and the Country at large, faeces free environment.