The Western Regional Minister Joseph Nelson has directed Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) in the region to prioritize sanitation management, warning that failure to do so could lead to another cholera outbreak similar to the one experienced last year.
His administration, he emphasized, will not tolerate any laxity or poor sanitation practices that pose a risk to public health.
He therefore pledged that his administration would work closely with all assemblies to implement effective measures for proper sanitation management, aimed at preventing disease outbreaks in the region.
At his first meeting with Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) after their confirmation, the Minister charged them to prioritize effective waste management, sanitation, and hygiene to prevent disease outbreaks in the region.
The Minister also called on the MMDAs to undertake desilting of clogged drains and implement robust measures to tackle sanitation challenges in their areas, as part of efforts to combat poor sanitation challenges in their areas.
The Minister emphasized that sanitation should be a top priority for the assemblies to enhance healthcare and citizen well-being, stressing that it is the primary responsibility of Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Chief Executives.
“They (Assemblies in the region) have had challenges in the past, and that has affected how effectively we are going to handle sanitation,” they said.
“President John Dramani Mahama was concerned about the cholera outbreak in the region and during his visit to the region, he asked me about the situation. We shouldn’t allow this to happen again,” he cautioned.
The Minister advised the MMDCEs to take responsibility and make sure they have absolute control over the sanitation situation.
He also urged the MMDCEs to organize regular clean-up exercises ahead of the national sanitation day announced by the central government. To ensure compliance, the Minister revealed plans to work with Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) tailored for all MMDCEs.
He emphasized that the MMDCEs’ tenure in office would be based on their performance as measured by these KPIs, with no other factors considered. Additionally, Joseph Nelson urged the Assemblies to utilize the DRIP machines provided to them to address the region’s poor road conditions.
The Minister encouraged the MMDCEs to develop well thought out programmes for reshaping and rehabilitating roads in their areas.
For effective maintenance of the machines, he appealed to the MMDCEs to carry out proper maintenance.
The Municipal Chief Executive for Ahanta West, Kofi Aidoo, speaking on behalf of the MMDCEs, praised the Regional Minister’s leadership and highlighted the urgent need to address the poor drainage system in Agona Nkwanta before the rainy season.
Dorothy Donkor
