CONIWAS schools government on how to make National Sanitation Campaign effective

Members of the Coalition of NGOs in Water and Sanitation (CONIWAS) have recommended a number of strategies they believe government could adapt during the fight against poor sanitation in the country.

During a press engagement in Accra, Vice Chairman of the Coalition, Attah Arhin said the National Sanitation Authority yet to be formed by government, could be made the overall framework for delivering improved sanitation in the country as the Authority’s purpose is to regulate and champion the implementation of excellent sanitation services in the country.

He said, “We expect government to do the following; Greater enforcement of sanitation by-laws devoid of the usual partisan political and social interferences, appropriate and robust M&E system for monitoring project implementation and performance and tracking progress and involvement of civil society in the implementation process to facilitate greater social accountability, transparency and responsiveness.”

He also mentioned that, the; sustained commitment and effective implementation of the National Sanitation Campaign, prioritization and investment for the implementation of the campaign and provision of adequate capacity building for persons involved were other ways government could take to improve sanitation in the country.

“We expect government to do the following; Greater enforcement of sanitation by-laws devoid of the usual partisan political and social interferences, appropriate and robust M&E system for monitoring project implementation and performance and tracking progress and involvement of civil society in the implementation process to facilitate greater social accountability, transparency and responsiveness,” he added.

The Coalition which focuses on working in partnership with sector players to influence policies expressed great displeasure at the growing nonchalant attitude of Ghanaians towards sanitation problems in the country.

Aside making suggestions to government on ways to improve sanitation, they also appealed to Ghanaians to change their attitude towards sanitary issues as that was a major player in determining the success of every initiative to end the menace.

They asked Ghanaians to quite open defecation, urination, and littering as such practices result in preventable diseases and avoidable deaths, making reference to the cholera outbreak in 2014 which killed about 150 people.

“We wish to make a special appeal to the good people of Ghana to embrace this campaign and ignite a desire for change in behavior and attitude towards sanitation. Change your attitudes,” they said.

The Coalition of NGOs in Water and Sanitation is an umbrella civil society organization of 90 members, both internationally and locally, committed to the sustainable delivery of safe water, improved sanitation and hygiene and integrated water resource management in Ghana.