10 persons arrested for engaging in open defecation

10 people have been arrested in the Komenda-Edina-Eguafo-Abirem(KEEA) municipality of the central region for engaging in open defecation at the beaches in the area.

The 10 made up of 7 men and three women according to authorities were arrested at the Elmina beach and the Salt mining fields in the area thereby hampering efforts by authorities in curbing the potential of disease outbreak in the area while making the beaches attractive to revellers.

The KEEA municipality was among the hard hit areas in the region two years ago in terms of the cholera outbreak that hit the country with many being affected by the disease.

The situation forced authorities to resort to prosecution of offenders i.e. those who defy orders to engage in open defecation as the assembly as educational campaigns to stop the menace wasn’t making any meaningful impact.

Despite the assembly providing toilet facilities in the town and beaches to serve the populace, residents still resort to the beaches making the area unattractive to revellers.

Last year, over 20 people were fined GHC300 by the Elmina magistrate court with one person being imprisoned for 6 months for engaging in open defecation.

Authorities told Ultimate News’ Central regional correspondent Kwaku Baah-Acheamfour that the story of the 10 arrested won’t be different as they will be arraigned before court tomorrow (January 2, 2017) to act as deterrent to the recalcitrant in society who would want to continue to turn the beach into defecation site.