Bishop unhappy about open defecation at beaches

Right Reverend Dr Joseph Kow Ghunney, a retired Bishop of the Winneba Diocese of the Methodist Church has expressed concern about the open defecation at the beaches.

He said this behaviour deter majority of tourists from visiting some beach resorts, depriving the nation of revenue.

Bishop Dr Ghunney made this known when he delivered the key note address at the maiden stakeholders meeting of “Save Our Beaches”, Ghana, an NGO, in Winneba

The Save Our Beaches Ghana, is based in Winneba, and aims at fighting the pollution of the nation’s beaches.

The meeting was attended by the Police, Prisons, Fire Service, fishermen, the Ministry of Fisheries, Ministry of Heath, market women and Social clubs.

It was under the theme “Our beaches, our heritage and our role”.

RT Rev Dr Ghunney said the continuing defecation, coupled with the invasion of used water sachet bags, make beaches unattractive to tourists.

He expressed worry about the situation where people vehemently refused to use the public toilet facilities provided by the government but rather chose to defecate openly at beaches.

Rt. Rev Dr Ghunney asked the Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies to enforce environmental sanitation laws to help curb the problem of the pollution of coastal areas.

He commended the Effutu Municipal Assembly for embarking on household collection of refuse.

Mr Peter Nana Ackon, Senior Programme Officer of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) said sand winning and other negative activities were causing severe damage to the coastal areas.

Mr Ackon hinted that the EPA expects every Ghanaian to protect the land, air and water bodies to avert the destruction of the ozone layer and possible outbreak of diseases.

Very Reverend Eldad Bonney, Presiding Member of Effutu Municipal Assembly, commended the NGO for taking the initiative to protect the beaches from pollution.

Rev Bonney said the Assembly will pass a resolution to compel all landlords to provide toilet facilities in their houses.

Mr Paa Kwesi Wilson, Executive Secretary of the NGO said the main objective was to educate the people on the need to save the beaches.