By Albert Allotey
Accra, Nov. 1, GNA – Three basic schools in the Okaikwei South Sub-Metropolitan District have been provided with new institutional toilet facilities under the Greater Accra Sustainable Sanitation and Livelihood Improvement Project (GASSLIP).
The project is aimed at improving sanitation in public schools and communities.
The facilities, funded by the African Development Bank (ADB), include a 14-seater at Kaneshie ‘2’ Methodist Primary and JHS, a 12-seater at Kaneshie Bishop ‘1’ and ‘2’ Basic School, and another 14-seater at Police Depot ‘3’ and ‘4’ Primary and JHS.
Mrs Elizabeth Kwatsoe Sackey, the Accra Metropolitan Chief Executive, handing over the facilities expressed gratitude to the ADB for the support and commended the Ministry of Sanitation and Water Resources and the Accra Metropolitan Assembly’s technical team for the various roles played in the completion of the project.
“Your commitment has made it possible for us to provide these essential services to our children, supporting their health and enhancing their educational experience,” she said and called for continued cooperation in creating a city that prioritises the well-being of every resident, beginning with young students in the metropolis.
She stressed the need for such facilities in supporting a clean and safe learning environment, particularly in light of recent reports of cholera outbreak in some areas of the Greater Accra Region.
Mrs Sackey emphasised the Assembly’s commitment to enforcing sanitation bylaws and shared plans to establish a dedicated sanitation court to prosecute sanitation offenders and deter future violations.
The mayor encouraged all stakeholders, particularly the school authorities and students, to take responsibility for maintaining the new facilities to ensure they serve their intended purposes, stating that; “These projects are vital in creating a cleaner and more resilient Accra, in line with the vision of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.”
Madam Lydia Seyram Alhassan, the Minister of Sanitation and Water Resources, in a speech read on her behalf at the commissioning of the facilities, said the GASSLIP project would significantly impact student well-being, attendance, and retention.
According to her, 54 of the 60 planned facilities under GASSLIP had been completed, benefiting over 60,000 learners and teachers across the Greater Accra Metropolitan Area.
Madam Alhassan highlighted the disability-friendly nature of the facilities and amenities for girls during their time of the month, adding that each facility was equipped with a large water storage system to ensure continuous water supply, reinforcing the importance of the facilities in creating a healthier, more sustainable school environment.
The Minister stressed the importance of Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) services, noting that these services were essential to public health, education, economic growth, and social equity.
“WASH is the foundation of human survival and plays a vital role in public health, education, economic growth, and social justice,” she said.
Reaffirming the Ministry’s commitment to the “Toilet for All” initiative, she urged households and institutions to end open defecation by constructing their own toilets.
She encouraged Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies (MMDAs) to enforce sanitation by-laws and support the provision of sanitation facilities in schools and healthcare institutions.
Madam Darkoa Newman, Member of Parliament for Okaikwei South, and also the Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection, tasked teachers and the management of the schools to see to the maintenance of the facilities to prolong their lifespan.
She thanked the Ministry of Sanitation, the ADB and all those who worked tirelessly to make the initiative a success.
GNA