WR: Let’s ensure there is no recurrence of cholera outbreak – Regional Minister to MMDCEs

The Western Regional Minister, Joseph Nelson, has warned Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives in the region against entertaining poor sanitation management in their respective areas.

He said his administration would not countenance any lackadaisical attitude that potentially could land the region in another cholera outbreak as occurred last year.

Consequently, he said his administration would collaborate effectively with all the assemblies to apply the appropriate measures required to kick against any form of disease outbreak in the region through proper sanitation management.

Addressing Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) at the maiden meeting with the team, following their confirmations, the Minister tasked them to deal decisively with waste management, sanitation and hygiene in order to kick against all forms of disease outbreaks in the region.

In line with the campaign against poor sanitation, he called on all the MMDCEs to carry out desilting of chocked gutters in their respective areas and put in place adequate measures required to wage relentless war against sanitation challenges in their areas.

The Minister said the issue of sanitation should be prioritized by the assemblies as part of activities to improve healthcare and well-being of citizens.

He said the issue of sanitation remains the primary responsibility of all Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives.

“They (Assemblies in the region) have had challenges in the past, and that has affected how effectively we are going to handle sanitation,” they said.

For the Minister, “Poor sanitation management has health implications” and must be addressed without any inconveniences created along the line.

“President John Dramani Mahama was concerned about the cholera outbreak in the region and during his visit to the region, he asked me about the situation. We shouldn’t allow this to happen again,” he cautioned.

The Minister advised the MMDCEs to take responsibility and make sure they have absolute control over the sanitation situation. “Let’s put strategy in place to clear all waste in our respective areas,” he said.

Joseph Nelson also called for constant clean up exercises, even before the national sanitation exercise as announced by central government is carried out.

“Let’s have a plan, to see how we can manage the sanitation situation in the region without recording any outbreak,” he added.

The Minister announced plans to work with Key Performance Indicators (KPI’s) developed for all MMDCEs to follow.

According to him, the continues stay of MMDCEs in office will be determined by these KPIs on their performances in office and not any other form of consideration.

Regarding the issue of deplorable state of roads in the region, Joseph Nelson appealed to the Assemblies to make maximum use of the DRIP machines supplied to all Assemblies.

“Majority of the Assemblies are in rural setting, therefore, the issue of roads, and the need to constantly take care of them is very important,” he stressed.

The Minister encouraged the MMDCEs to develop well thought out programmes for reshaping and rehabilitating roads in their areas.

“Have proper plans for deployment of the DRIP machines,” he said.

For effective maintenance of the machines, he appealed to the MMDCEs to carry out proper maintenance.

“In terms of servicing, let’s make sure they are in good shape at all times,” he cautioned.

The Municipal Chief Executive for Ahanta West, Kofi Aidoo, who spoke on behalf of the MMDCEs commended the Regional Minister for the leadership being provided in the region and highlighted effectively the issue of poor drains in Agona Nkwanta and why it remains crucial to be tackled ahead of the rainy season.

By Ebenezer Atiemo

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