According to him, this will reduce the region’s alarming rate of open defecation.

He said the damming reports of the region having placed first conservatively in open defecation needs a radical approach to reverse the situation.

Mr. Rockson disclosed this during the Bolgatanga municipal town hall meeting.

He said until sanitation offenders are arrested and prosecuted by law enforcement agencies, the region may suffer communicable and airborne diseases.

“Another area I wish to draw the attention of our people to is open defecation especially in Bolgatanga and the region at large. Our region is rated the last nationwide by a UNICEF report on sanitation because we do not have household toilets and therefore we do it anywhere.”

“While assemblies in other regions are struggling to attain 50% of their target in sanitation the Upper East hits 130%. We cannot relax on this and we have to take stringent measures to correct it. I am tasking all assemblies’ to form task-forces to arrest those who defecate openly and send them to court for prosecution.”

“We are also giving landlords who do not have toilets in their house three (3) months to provide them or have their houses locked up. People should report such landlords to the assembly’s sanitation unit because you will be disgraced before the whole world if you are found defecating openly.”

Mr. Rockson impressed on the citizenry to honour their tax obligations to facilitate the development of the municipality.

He also urged the citizenry to report revenue collectors who intend to milk the state to the police, adding that, people should  insist on receipts for any transaction they carry out.

Mr. Rockson entreated all and sundry to embrace the many government programmes such as the Free SHS policy, Planting for Food and Jobs, one district, one factory among others, geared towards ameliorating the suffering of Ghanaians, and contribute their quota to help government succeed.

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By: Frederick Awuni/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Arrest open defecation offenders – Minister to MDAs appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

This he said will help curb the indiscriminate littering within Tema.

According to him, Tema being an industrial city and one of the best planned community in the country, deserves to have a clea. metropolis at all times.

Mr Mensah-La said this at the maiden edition of a three week clean up agenda to rid the city of filth in Tema.

He said the three week clean up agenda set by his office is aimed at ensuring that Tema becomes clean again and also ensure that the Presidents vision of making the GreaterAccra region the cleanest city in Africa comes to fruition.

“This is an exercise that will continue in the coming days because Tema to a large extent has lost its glory and its about time all stakeholders come together to build the city.”

He noted that sanitation offenders would be prosecuted and fined accordingly to serve as deterrent to others.

The maiden exercise of the clean up which started from Tema East would in the subsequent weeks move through all three constituencies.

The exercise saw many people come out in their numbers to desilt gutters, sweep the streets and clear choked drains.

The people were also educated on the need to keep a clean environment.

“We are not going to relent on this exercise of arrest and the prosecution of sanitation offenders until the people get to know that it is an offence to litter around. We shall strictly go by the sanitation by-laws without fear or favour,” he stressed.

Mr Mensah-La said his administration will among other key things prioritize sanitation related issues to ensure Tema takes back its lost glory.

The Mayor, together with his management staff participated in the exercise and later visited some areas within the Tema East constituency where similar exercise took place to access the level of work done.

Residents of Bankuman a suburb of Tema New-town lamented the poor drainage and sewage problems affecting the community.

They pleaded with the Mayor to give situation an urgent attention in the area.
In his response to the plight of residents, the Mr Mensah-La pleaded with them to exercise restraint,  adding that, a proper sewage line and drainage systems will be constructed soon to alleviate the problem.

He however cautioned them to desist from improper dumping of waste, adding that, the sanitation by-laws enacted, will be used to prosecute those who flout the laws.

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The law will vehemently deal with people found culpable without mercy,” he further cautioned.

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By: Elvis Washington/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post TMA to arrest sanitation offenders  appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.