The alliance of WASH Advocacy, a coalition of non-governmental organisations and network focused on improved water delivery and sanitation, has petitioned the Ministry of Sanitation and Water Resources to address open defecation and review its approach towards the attainment of the millennium development goals.
The alliance commended the government for the recently launched national sanitation campaign, and efforts that seek to address sanitation and hygiene issues in Ghana.
Speaking to citifmonline.com, Abdul- Nashiru Mohammed, the Country Director of Water Aid, a non-governmental organisation, said open defecation was a serious menace that needs all the attention it can get.
He said there was the need for property owners to be compelled to provide toilet facilities.
“Households have a role to play, household needs to contribute to the development of their own household toilet, you cannot leave that to government, if you are able build a house you should be able to put in a toilet” he said.
Nashiru Mohammed also noted that, there have been suggestions on the need to have a national sanitation fund, to help the country effectively end open defecation.
He suggested that money for the fund can come from extractive sectors like gold and oil and gas, which gives Ghana about four hundred million dollars or more annually.
Nashiru Mohammed said the Ministry is excited that the Alliance bought the memorandum to their doorstep, and has promised to collaborate with them and other civic society organisations in the fight to improve sanitation in the country.
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By: Farida Yusif/Citifmonline.com/Ghana