The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of State Housing Corporation, Dr. Samuel Sarpong has urged Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) to empower Assembly members as well as the Unit Committee members to champion the National Sanitation exercise in their respective electoral areas.
This to him would reduce the apathy on the part of residents.
According to the NDC parliamentary candidate for Nhyiaeso constituency in the Ashanti region, the Unit Committees as well as their local legislators (Assembly members) have direct contact with the residents, therefore leaving the sanitation programme under their care will be one of the best alternative measures to bridging the low turnout gap.
Hon. Dr. Samuel Sarpong made the suggestion after he had participated in the just ended 20th sanitation exercise at Adiebeba and Ahodwo, all in his constituency (Nhyiaeso) in the Ashanti region.
Participation in the National Sanitation Programme which was instituted in November 2014 and scheduled for the first Saturday of every month has been dwindling as many people including Politicians, petty traders and shop keepers as well as store owners are refusing to participate in the exercise.
The former Mayor of Kumasi, Ashanti Regional Minister and a onetime Central Regional Minister noted and described the programme as a national duty which every citizen must partake.
“My heart keeps beating when I see people feeling reluctant on the day of the exercise, forgetting that it is a national duty call that we must all take part” he said.
He said the time had come for all and sundry to adopt a positive outlook towards improved sanitation and urged Ghanaians to desist from politicizing the programme.
“Diseases do not know of an NPP or an NDC or a political colour, when it waves, anybody including you and I could become victims. You and I also know that poor sanitation comes with a cost through the outbreak of preventable diseases like cholera, which invariably affects productivity” he noted.
Dr Samuel Sarpong, however, called on the MMDAs to strengthen and strictly enforce their sanitation bye-laws to make it more “biting” for offenders of especially the Sanitation exercise.
By Antwi Boasiako|Akoma Fm|3news.com|Ghana
Twitter: @3newsgh