The Mental Health and Well-Being Foundation (MHWBF), a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), has constructed a ten-seater disability-friendly water closet toilet for the Ho Cured Lepers Village.
The over GHC100,000 project was funded by the Australian High Commission with support from the University of New Castle, Australia, which also includes the extension of water to the facility.
The Australian High Commissioner, Andrew Barnes, said the efforts of “well established” local organisations helped the Commission identify and support community development through its Direct Aid Project.
He said under the Direct Aid 12 projects had been executed in the country this year, with other countries in the West African Sub-region being beneficiaries.
Mr Barnes promised a more sustained relationship between Australia and Ghana, which, he said, would enhance development and urged stakeholders including the community to ensure the facility served its purpose.
“I will urge you all to take ownership of it and treat it as your own.”
Togbe Afele II, Divisional Chief of Ho Hliha, said the Community had been grappling with sanitation challenges until the timely intervention of the NGO and the Australian High Commission.
He said the intervention brought to an end, years of open defecation and appealed to organisations to support such communities.
Togbe Afele said the Covid-19 pandemic left no chance to sanitation irresponsibility and that traditional authorities must support maintenance of good sanitation practices with strong by-laws.
The Volta Regional Project Manager of the NGO, Divine Kporha, said the facility would help the Community realise some crucial Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and acknowledged the commitment of various stakeholders.
“I hope it will be maintained to really meet the direct sanitation needs of the people of this community,” he said.
Dr Francis Acquah, the President of MHWBF, provided food items, nose masks and hand sanitizers to the cured lepers and the aged.
