By: Franklin ASARE-DONKOH
The Coalition of Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) in Water and Sanitation (CONIWAS) has called on the Government of Ghana, through the Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, to press upon Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) to enforce environmental sanitation by-laws.
CONIWAS again admonished MMDAs to fully exercise their mandate by intensifying environmental sanitation measures, including the following:
1. Clean and disinfect high-risk and flood-affected communities, markets, schools, health facilities, and other public spaces to reduce the risk of disease transmission.
2. Provide safe water alternatives to communities without access to potable water;
3. Intensify food hygiene inspections in affected areas;
4. Support community-level disease surveillance; and
5. Take firm action against structures and activities that obstruct waterways and worsen flood risk.
The Coalition commended the government for the release of GHS 300 million from the Contingency Fund and the deployment of security services to support relief operations.
It, however, called for a sustained focus on Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) infrastructure, which it said, is essential for human existence.
Below is the statement;
