By: Franklin ASARE-DONKOH
World Vision Ghana (WVG), a Christian-based organization dedicated to improving the lives of vulnerable children, families, and communities, and partners have officially launched the 6th edition of the School Sanitation Solutions (Triple S) Challenge in Accra.
Participants at the launch added their voice to numerous clarion calls placed on the central government and stakeholders to prioritize Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) in schools.
The Associate WASH Director at WVG, Robel L. Wamisho, in his welcome address, explained that the TripleS Challenge first launched in September 2019 by World Vision Ghana and partners Kings Hall Media, and in collaboration with Junior Graphic, has made the desired impact and has also become one of the most important events on Ghana’s WASH calendar of activities and that of the Education Sector.
“I am happy to observe that tremendous progress has been made towards the achievement of the following objectives of the Triple S challenge: Influencing children to become sanitation conscious and agents of change, Challenging children to co-create sustainable solutions to sanitation challenges around them, and Advocating for the removal of barriers and increased access to improved sanitation, particularly in basic schools.
The 1st to 5th Child Sanitation Diplomats – Neriah Tettey of Silicon Valley International School, Ofankor, Accra, Naziru Mawadatu of Damongo Girls Model JHS, Maame Akua Ohenewaa Gyimah of Dahwenya Methodist ‘B’ Basic School, Adjoa Gyakoa Appiah-Kubi of Efutu MA Basic School, and Faraj Abdul Yazid Timtoni Wumbei have all been worthy ambassadors in the effort to defeat poor sanitation.
Neriah’s Facebook posts, media engagements, community outreaches, and peer sensitization received various commendations. Mawada’s visits to the Yabonwura, Savannah Regional Minister and Municipal Chief Executive, Regional and Municipal Directors of Education, and the creation of her own YouTube channel have made a tremendous impact. Maame Akua’s project was impactful both locally and internationally.
Her visit to the Minister for Sanitation and Water Resources was very memorable, and her acquisition of a toilet facility for her school was great.
Adjoa hosted an Executive Breakfast Conversation in Cape Coast and, with support from the Central Regional Minister and the RCC, undertook community outreaches.
Faraj was off to a great start soon after being crowned the 2024 Child Sanitation Diplomat. His visits to the Regional Minister, the Regional Director of Education, and others were impressive.
Faraj also hosted a breakfast conversation and undertook community visits to assess the sanitation situation in communities and schools, with follow-up short videos,” the Associate WASH Director at WVG recounted.
Ghana has made remarkable progress in respect of access to safe water, but, regrettably, the same cannot be said about environmental sanitation. Progress towards universal access to improved sanitation and ending open defecation continues to be very slow, Mr. Wamisho noted
He was quick to add that WVG, believes in a better world for children, and partners are ready to collaborate with government Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs), Development Partners, NGOs, CSOs, and all other relevant stakeholders to accelerate access to improved basic sanitation in the country.
According to him, that is the surest way to realize WVG’s vision for every child, LIFE IN ALL ITS FULLNESS!
“The TripleS Challenge is a project with great prospects for raising a new sanitation-conscious generation, and I wish to invite MDAs, development partners, INGOs, corporate organizations, and high-worth Individuals to partner with the organizers and support this laudable initiative to succeed. I assure you that your investment will not be in vain” Mr. Wamisho emphasised.
Speaking in an interview with GBCGHANAONLINE’s Franklin ASARE-DONKOH on the sidelines of the event, the WASH Technical Specialist at WVG, Mr. Yaw Atta Arhin, hinted that plans are far advanced to scale up to the Senior Secondary School (SSS) level.
He explained that the Senior Secondary School edition will be in the form of inter-school challenge, unlike the TripleS Challenge, which is an individual affair among pupils in primary and Junior Secondary Schools.
“Let me use your medium to caution both parents and teachers to desist from writing the essay for their children. If any parent or teacher writes for any child, that child will be fished out because there are various stages to determine whether the children wrote the scripts themselves or not,” Mr. Arhin said.
The Essay topic for the sixth edition is “The President of the Republic of Ghana has declared SANITATION as a top priority in his administration, and has gone ahead to make this a Key Performance Indicator (KPI) for all newly-appointed Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs). As one of these MMDCEs, outline your vision and the steps you will take to ensure improved basic sanitation and sustainable waste management in your Metropolis, Municipality, or District?”
One Response
This program will help make our environment clean and help abstain from dirt and filth