Kumasi, May 18, GNA - Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) have been urged to ensure strict enforcement of bye-laws on sanitation to rid the cities and big towns of filth. Mr Edward Amoaning, Ashanti Regional Health Environmental Officer, said this was necessary to prevent malaria, dysentery, typhoid, cholera and other diseases.

He said it was time more attention was focused on maintaining high standards of environmental sanitation to keep the people healthy. Speaking to the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in an interview, Mr Amoaning raised concern about the situation where some landlords refused to make provision for household toilets and the poor management of the public ones. This certainly gives cause to worry and things would need to change, he added.

He also spoke of the need for the MMDAs to intensify public education to help the people to appreciate the importance of keeping their surroundings clean. Added to this was the maintenance of personal hygiene. Mr Amoaning asked food vendors to operate within safe and clean environment and warned that those who went against this would be prosecuted.