[ads3]
The absence of sanitation and hygiene facilities has left many Ghanaians to practicing open defecation and other unhygienic practices such as the use of unhealthy options like the bucket latrines, imposing an extra layer of risk amidst the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.
Communities of Agyan, Domunli, and Akonu in the Nzema East Municipal of the Western Region, which have had to grapple with such challenges, heaved a sigh of relief when the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC) handed over new toilet facilities to each community.[ads1]
The 12-unit facility at Agyan and the 6-unit facilities at Domunli and Akonu come with a mechanized water system and are expected to improve the sanitary conditions in the communities while combating sanitation-related illness.
A brief ceremony to hand over the facilities brought together members of all three communities, including traditional leaders and the MCE.
The Executive Director of the GNPC Foundation, Dr. Dominic Eduah, said the project forms part of GNPC’s CSR policy and Community Sanitation Programme to support deprived communities in improving sanitary and hygiene conditions and expressed the hope that the facility would contribute to tackling the longstanding problem of indiscriminate defecation. He tasked the leaders and people to be good stewards of the facilities by ensuring their proper maintenance.
Mr. Frank Okpeyen, MCE for Nzema East, said the provision of the facility by GNPC is yet another testament to the government’s mission to collaborating with development partners to bring development to communities and people.
He said the intervention was timely as it coincides with ongoing efforts to improve on hygiene conditions of the people in furtherance of the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. He thanked GNPC for the project.[ads4]
Ohemaa Asifuah, a traditional leader and representative of the 3 neighbouring communities, said the availability and access to basic social amenities remain a challenge for many rural and low-income communities in Ghana and therefore thanked GNPC for contributing to alleviating the plight of the communities.
Source: GNPC Foundation
[ads5]
