By Dennis Peprah
Sunyani (Bono Region), Aug. 25, GNA – Mrs Gertrude Lenseni, the Sunyani Municipal Environmental Health Officer, has commended the judiciary for the speedy prosecution of sanitation offences in the municipality.
Although she could not readily provide figures on the number of sanitation-related cases prosecuted, Mrs Lenseni said the Sanitation Unit of the Sunyani Municipal Assembly was impressed by the manner in which the courts handled sanitation offences.
She gave the commendation in an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA) on the sidelines of a disinfection exercise undertaken in the municipality on Tuesday.
Mrs Lenseni noted that, beyond the enforcement of local sanitation by-laws, there were national laws that provided for the prosecution of serious environmental sanitation offences.
She called on the media to take a keen interest in the reporting of sanitation-related court cases and prosecutions.
According to her, extensive media coverage of such cases and the punishments imposed would educate the public and serve as a deterrent to individuals who engaged in environmental and sanitation offences.
Mrs Lenseni expressed concern that some people continued to defecate into polythene bags and other plastic materials and dispose of them indiscriminately in drains, gutters and refuse containers.
Touching on the ongoing disinfection exercise, Mr Franklin Ofori Akuffo, Bono Regional Manager of Zoomlion Ghana Limited (ZGL), reaffirmed the company’s commitment to promoting good environmental sanitation and effective waste management.
He said Zoomlion, in collaboration with the 12 Municipal and District Assemblies (MDAs) in the Bono Region, was carrying out the exercise across the region.
Mr Akuffo explained that major drains, markets, lorry terminals, public toilets and refuse container sites were being disinfected to enhance environmental cleanliness and reduce the risk of disease outbreaks.
He expressed optimism that with the support and cooperation of the public, the exercise would achieve its intended objectives of riding the environment of filth and disease-carrying insects.
Mr Akuffo stressed that the success of the exercise depended largely on the cooperation of traders, market women, transport operators and other stakeholders.
He said the disinfection of public facilities and strategic locations would contribute significantly to improving environmental sanitation and public health in the region.
GNA
Edited by Lydia Kukua Asamoah
Reporter: Dennis Peprah
Email: [email protected]