GKMA Toilet Facilities: Sanitation Minister Inspects Project
The Minister for Sanitation and Water Resources, Hon Cecilia Abena Dapaah, is in the Ashanti Region for a two-day working visit to inspect ongoing toilet facility projects.
The Ministry, with support from the World Bank, is constructing toilet facilities for households without toilets in the Greater Kumasi Metropolitan Area (GKMA).
It is aimed at eliminating open defecation in the selected Assemblies in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal six (SDG-6) by 2030. Among the selected areas are Kumasi Metropolis, Suame, Kwadaso, Ejisu, Asokore Mampong, Asokwa Oforikrom, and Old Tafo Municipalities.
The Minister is accompanied by a team from the Ministry, including the Chief Director, Noah Tumfoh, and the GKMA Project Coordinator, Engineer George Asiedu. The inspection is to give her firsthand information on the progress and quality of work and to engage with engineers working on the projects.
According to Engineer George Asiedu, who spoke to Opemsuo Radio last week, the Ministry has targeted 30,000 household toilet facilities and 120 institutional toilet facilities by the end of 2024. Beneficiaries are to pay one-third (1/3) of the total cost while government bears the remaining cost.
She started her tour from the Ejisu Municipality where the team inspected some completed household facilities already in use. Their next stop was the Kentinkrono M/JHS in the Oforikrom Municipality and proceeded to Asokwa Presby JHS to inspect the ongoing projects. The team headed to South Suntreso where the day ended.
Speaking to the press after day one, Hon Cecilia Abena Dapaa indicated she was impressed with the progress of work and commended the engineers working on the projects. She also commended the Ejisu Municipality for building over one thousand household toilet facilities.
The Minister was, however, concerned about the maintenance and longevity of the facilities and hence advised beneficiaries to ensure a high standard of maintenance culture to ensure the facilities last to serve their purpose.
Story by George Addo
