13 People In Trouble Over Sh**t In The Open

The Komenda-Edina-Eguafo-Abrem Municipal Assembly (KEAAMA) Sanitation Task Force in collaboration with the Ghana Police Service in the early hours of Tuesday arrested 13 persons for open defecation.

The suspects, made up of five females and eight males were caught openly defecating along the coastal beaches of Komenda at about 0530 hours.

Mr Alex Damptey, the Municipal Environmental Officer who confirmed the arrest to the Ghana News Agency in an interview, said the suspect had been handed over to the Police awaiting trial.

He said despite several public announcements and education for the citizenry to disengage from the shameful act, some recalcitrant people had failed to heed to the advice.

He said the Assembly would henceforth strictly enforce the Sanitation bye Laws to deter others.

He underscored the unwavering determination of the Assembly to radically increase access to household facilities across the Municipality, especially in the slums and rural communities.

The Environmental Officer described the sanitation situation in the Metropolis as "disgusting" saying it needed collective efforts to remedy the situation.

'Ghanaians must build, own and use improved toilet facilities at home as a means to ending open defecation' he stressed.

'We want our people and institutions to understand that the moment somebody practices open defecation everybody's life is endangered". He added.

According to him, open defecation and sanitation related issues had drastically drained the Assembly of its limited resources and therefore urged all to support them to sustain the campaign against open defecation.

He indicated that the 'Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) on Sanitation could once again be missed if homeowners did not include the construction of more desirable, environmentally-friendly and affordable toilet technologies in their homes.

That notwithstanding, he stated that the Assembly would continue to undertake various advocacy and awareness raising activities to remind citizens of the need to own and use hygienic toilets in their homes.

He said the Municipality is the tourism hub of the Region and so the people should ensure tidy surroundings always.

That, he noted would attract and retain tourists and investors who would contribute greatly to its socio-economic growth.