Australian Government Hands over Toilet Facility to Atwima Koforidua

Sanitation in the Atwima Koforidua community in the Atwima Kwanwoma North Municipality of the Ashanti region is expected to see a marked improvement.

A newly built ultra-modern public toilet facility has been opened to the community with funding from the Australian Embassy in Ghana.

The area has been noted for the menace of open defecation as several of the houses were built in the 1980’s with no provision for household toilet facilities.

The only public toilet facility in the community built from HIPC funds to serve some twenty five thousand residents, has fast deteriorated with the huge numbers overstretching its capacities.

The community was marked for a 50,000 Australian Dollar Aid from the Australian government when assembly members and the Member of Parliament for Atwima Nwabiagya North, Benito Owusu Bio petitioned the Australian High Commission for support.

Opening the project at a well attended jubilant ceremony, Australian High Commissioner to Ghana, Andrew Barnes indicated that the facility formed part of the mission of the Australian Government to support Ghana deal with its challenges of open defecation and poor sanitation.

He recounted, “Thanks to the Member of Parliament the Honourable Benito, the Australian High Commission, received application for the funding of this toilet project here. The practice of open defecation is one of the leading causes of preventable diseases like cholera, diarrhoea and typhoid fever which continue to prove deadly especially among women and children in Ghana. The project we are launching here today is one of ten modern sanitation projects funded in our direct aid program grants.”

The MP for the area, outlined that the funding has been extended to provide a bore hole with further funds earmarked to build a kindergarten for the community.

He however admitted that the 20-seater toilet facility will not be enough to serve the whole community as several homes have not been able to comply with the sanitation laws for each home to have its private household toilet facility.

Chiefs in the community, decorated the High Commissioner Andrew Barnes and enstooled him a development chief for the Atwima Koforidua township.

Community members who could not bottle in their joy were however half sated as they demanded that another public toilet be built on the opposite side of the town to serve the community equitably.

“It will be very helpful to us but we also want one in the other side of the town. Many people live there but there are no toilet facilities. You could let go of your bowels if you have to move all the way here to attend natures call,” a trader lamented.

Another resident pointed out: “We are grateful to the honourable for honouring the Koforidua township with this project. Crossing over to this place is not good especially for the children who have to cross the road. They should build another one where the schools are so we don’t record any accidents from people crossing to access the toilet.”

The Assembly member for the Atwima Koforidua electoral area Vincent Ansere Boateng told Ultimate News’ Ivan Heathcote Fumador, the opening of the toilet facility has come as a timely relief to the community.

He assured that proceeds from the public toilet will be instrumental in helping the assembly, construct a police station for the community.

By: Ghana/Ultimatefmonline.com/106.9FM/Ivan Heathcote – Fumador

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