Sanitation project takes off at La Dadekotopon

A project to ensure access to basic sanitary amenities has begun at the La Dadekotopon Municipal Assembly (LaDMA) in Accra.

Dubbed “Water, Sanitation and Hygiene for Urban Poor (WASH-UP)”, the project, which would be extended to four other regions, would also focus on educating residents on good hygiene practices using social events such as community games.

It is being implemented by Global Communities Ghana, a non-governmental organisation and sponsored by USAID.

Speaking to the Daily Graphic after a field visit to the municipality by a team from the US Embassy in Ghana, the Country Director of Global Communities, Mr Alberto Wilde, said the programme would improve access to affordable and reliable water by extending main water distribution lines into more communities and households.

So far, 79 house have been connected to the 2.5 kilometre water main extension, while 67 families have benefited from toilets with hand washing facilities.

Currently, a number of toilet facilities have been constructed for the residents and households of the municipality.

LaDMA on the move

The Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) for the La DadeKotopon Municipal Assembly (LaDMA), Ms Rita Odoley Sowah, who expressed satisfaction with the project, said WASH-UP had come as a great relief to the people of La. 

The municipality, she said, had been battling with open defaecation for some time now, and expressed the hope that there would be behavioural change among residents. 

Ms Sowah said the Environmental Health Department of LaDMA would continue to arrest and prosecute persons found culpable of open defecation. 

“Even though the culprits are fined various amounts, it would be good if they are made to clean up the places where they are caught defaecating for a period of time,” she said. 

That, according to her, would serve as a deterrent to others, especially if it was backed by law.