The Municipal Chief Executive of the Sefwi Wiawso Municipal Assembly, Hon. Louis Owusu Agyapong has touted Zoomlion Ghana Limited’s Integrated Recycling and Compost Plant (IRECOP) by describing it as a “Master stroke” that will help solve the sanitation challenges in the Sefwi -Wiaso township.
He said considering the new status of the town as the Western North regional capital, population is rapidly growing coupled with improved economic activities and this has led to increased waste generation hence the plant will help manage and recycle the waste into re-useable products.
“Waste will soon be a resource in our town as people will be encouraged to pick waste from the floor and send them to recycling points for sale”.
The Municipal Chief Executive made this remarks at a sanitation dialogue organized by Graphic Communications group and Zoomlion Ghana Limited to engage stakeholders on the need to keep communities clean.
Hon. Louis Agyapong indicated that it is imperative for sanitation bye-laws to be enforced to compel community members to change attitudes for improved sanitation.
“My Municipality has reviewed its sanitation bye-laws to give it legal effect since some of the laws has become absolete”. He revealed.
Mr. Moses Aklorbortu who made a remark on behalf of the Editor of the Daily Graphic, Mr. Kobby Asmah expressed the company commitment towards setting media agenda on sanitation issues to help achieve clean communities.
He said this informed the partnership with Zoomlion Ghana Limited to undertake a sanitation dialogue in all 16 regions of Ghana to engage stakeholders towards attaining improved sanitation conditions.
He said the region as a major food basket in the country must prioritize sanitation issues.
“We are focusing on whipping good sanitary practices among the citizens and we urge the various MMDAs to enforce their bye-laws” he appealed.
The Western North Regional Environmental Health Officer, Mr. Paul Nutsugah explained that about 70% of illness within the region are sanitation related hence becoming a major drain on the National Health Insurance Scheme.
“Ghana is also spending more money to treat water since research has proven that this is as a result of faecal matter that contaminate water and the need for proper treatment”.
Mr. Nutsugah said Households should try and separate their waste at source as this will help easy recycling at the plant being constructed.
The Tufuhene of Sefwi-Wiaso Traditional Area, Nana Kofi Damtey III who chaired a panel discussion session tasked community members to adhere to good sanitary practices.
He tasked the Assembly not to relent on its efforts to enforce the sanitation bye-laws.
CLEANING OF SEFWI-WIASO TOWNSHIP
The team led by Zoomlion Ghana Limited undertook a massive clean-up exercise at the main Sefwi-Wiaso station.
The team desilted drains, swept the main streets and evacuated heaps of refuse dotted in some parts of the township.
The National Fire Service, Ghana Armed Forces and the Ghana Police Service joined the exercise to revive communal cleaning among community members.
Mr. Patrick Kwofie, a supervisor of Zoomlion Ghana Limited at the Western North Region lamented about the indiscriminate dumping of waste within the township.
He said despite this challenge, Zoomlion Ghana Limited continue to undertake regular cleaning services to keep the region clean at all times.
He appealed to residents to acquire Zoomlion waste Bin which is being distributed for households to manage their waste.
The “Graphic-Zoomlion” sanitation dialogue has been undertaken in 10 regions of Ghana to ensure that community members support other stakeholders to achieve a clean Ghana.
The team will move to the Northern sector of the country to propagate the need to keep our communities clean at all times
