Kumasi, June 6, GNA - A public health engineer has urged Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) to encourage more private participation in waste management programmes to help promote a healthier environment.

Mr Anthony Mensah said privatization of waste management service delivery was an unavoidable option if efficiency and reduction in maintenance costs are to be achieved.

He was speaking at a public lecture on sanitation held in Kumasi under the theme: 93Building clean and healthy nation, the role of the youth." The Movement for Development Ghana, a local non-governmental organization (NGO), organized the programme.

Mr Mensah, who is the Director of the Waste Management Department of the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA), said the assembly has currently engaged seven private contractors for solid waste collection with more than

15 others engaged in other related activities. This arrangement, he said had led to significant improvements by way of cleanliness of the streets, service quality and reduction in cost to the KMA.

Additionally, there had been an increase in revenue generation through the house-to-house collection and pay-as-you-dump schemes.

Mr Mensah said it was important the MMDAs also worked towards building their capacities to enable them to respond appropriately to environmental challenges for sustainable development.

Mr Samuel Sarpong, the Metropolitan Chief Executive (MCE), said it was worrying that in spite of the intensive education and publicity on environmental sanitation some residents continued to litter the streets with impunity.

He condemned the practice of throwing faeces wrapped in polythene into open drains and said this must be stopped.

The MCE called on teachers to help school children to maintain good personal hygiene and environmental sanitation.

Michael Nana Ampong, President of the NGO, said the organization would always be associated with efforts at creating environmental awareness.