By Mildred Siabi-Mensah, GNA
Takoradi, July 21, GNA – The Western Regional branch of the Media Coalition Against Open Defecation, M-CODE, has begun radio sensitisation, to advance advocacy on the government’s new directive to make sanitation a Key Performance Indicator (KPI) for Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives, (MMDCEs.)
The campaign, on the theme: “Institutionalising Sanitation Performance,” would see M-CODE members use their various platforms to engage duty bearers, policy analysts, media practitioners and civil society organisations, to enhance public awareness and public accountability for sanitation delivery.
The President has formally declared sanitation as a KPI for MMDCEs, moving the issue from advocacy talking points to a measurable governance requirement.
“The declaration means sanitation is no longer optional. It is now part of how we measure leadership and service delivery”.
Mr Francis Ameyibor, the National Convener of M-CODE, applauded World Vision Ghana for its support, which would help provide independent, public and evidence-based monitoring of sanitation performance at the district level.
In partnership with World Vision Ghana, M-CODE is undertaking similar projects in six other regions involving; Central, Northern, Greater Accra, Upper West, Upper East and Ahafo, in the initial rollout.
The strategy is to deploy journalists as the accountability bridge between the government, traditional authorities, local assemblies and citizens to end open defecation in communities.
In the Western Region, the Team Lead, Mrs Mildred Siabi-Mensah, said members would assess district budgets, infrastructure rollout, enforcement of sanitation by-laws, and community sensitisation activities, through a panel discussion on GBC’s Radio Twin- city.
She indicated that M-CODE would deepen community-led monitoring and track budget execution on sanitation projects to ensure that policy translated into measurable outcomes.
She called on citizens, assembly members, traditional authorities and the media to sustain the momentum, stressing that ending open defecation required collective ownership from policy to practice.
GNA
Edited by Justina Hilda Paaga/ Christabel Addo
Reporter: Mildred Siabi-Mensah
Email: [email protected]