Mrs. Emma Akyea-Boakye, Director for Communication and Corporate Affairs for Zoomlion Ghana Limited, has charged journalists in the Volta and Oti Regions to demonstrate keener interest in reporting on sanitation issues.

She said the mass media is a powerful vehicle in the development of every country and their firm engagement in the fight against the poor sanitation menace in the country is a great course to the gradual end of poor sanitation practices, but a birth of civic consciousness towards proper sanitation practices.

Mrs. Emma Akya-Boaky said this after her presentation of an award to the winner of the sanitation category, Maxwel Awumah, at the third Volta Journalists’ Association Awards 2019 at Volta Serene Hotel, Ho.

The awards ceremony which was on the theme: “Environmental Cleanliness, Media as Vanguard, Don’t Drop that Litter”, saw 12 reporters awarded for their diligent reportage in Health, Education, Sanitation, Tourism, Sports, Child Right Protection and Agriculture among others.

The Director noted that, Zoomlion Ghana Limited is focused on ensuring that Ghana achieves a zero waste status and as it has introduced a facelift to waste management in the country through the installation of the Integrated Recycling and Composting Plant in Accra, with a soon to be completed installation of the plant at Kumasi and Takoradi, it would support the campaign of the media to “name and shame” perpetrators of poor sanitation practices and “name and praise” people who practice exemplary sanitation practices within their communities.

She also expressed hope that just as the media’s formation of a coalition helped in the fight against illegal mining (galamsey) in the country, the launch of the sanitation campaign would help Zoomlion and other actors in the sanitation industry give Ghana a facelift globally, in terms of sanitation.

Meanwhile, Mr. Yaw Attah Arhin, Water and Sanitation Technical Coordinator, World Vision International during his key note address bemoaned the state of sanitation in the country and called on government and non-state actors to double efforts and resources towards fighting the sanitation menace which has become an albatross on the necks of industry players in the country.

He said the Ministry of Sanitation and Water Resources which is one of the key areas to be tackled by developing countries is under-funded.

“The Water and Sanitation (WASH) sector is one of the most under-funded sectors in Ghana, with the 2019 budget allocating only GHS 246 million to the Ministry of Sanitation and Water Resources and its agencies.”

Mr. Anthony Bels Kafui Kanyi, Chairman of the GJA, Volta/Oti Regions reiterated the

importance of their sanitation campaign and urged reporters not to relent in their efforts

The awards ceremony was climaxed with a fund raising activity to support the Volta GJA Sanitation Campaign.

In another development, waste management experts, Zoomlion Ghana Limited, has launched its maiden safety week with a call on workers to adhere to the company’s health and safety regulations.

The week-long celebration, which was launched at the company’s head office in Accra, was on the theme, “Promoting a Safety Culture through Best Safety Practices.”

The Deputy Managing Director of Zoomlion, Mrs. Gloria Opoku Antiwho officially launched a ten safety rules for adherence by staff, in a statement said, considering the frightening global statistics at the work place, the company has shown strong commitment in developing a sustainable safety culture for workers.

“According to the 2017 research by the International Labour Organisation, at least 7,671 people die every day at the work place from injuries they sustain in line of duty and close to 374 million non-fatal injuries are also recorded, so it is important to adopt the best safety practice to protect lives and properties,” she pointed out.

She said even though her outfit recognises that general safety is an individual responsibility, the company has rolled out “world class” safety regulations and provide the necessary equipment to enable workers effectively discharge their duties.

Mrs. Opoku Anti said Zoomlion will continue its focus on building knowledge, capabilities and raise awareness for workers to enable them to recognise and eliminate risks before they occur.

“To enable us avoid the spread of disease and manage the stress levels of workers, we have invested heavily in our safety management by meeting the international requirement and systems”, she added.

The Director of Communications and Corporate Affairs of Zoomlion, Emma Akyea-Boakye, revealed that measures have been put in place for employees to work within enhanced safety environment.

Mrs Akyea-Boakye unveiled the company’s 10 safety rules to improve safety awareness at Zoomlion and other subsidiaries of the Jospong Group of Companies.

Addressing the media on the sideline of the event, Health and Safety Consultant, Atta Abboah, disclosed that an 18-member committee has been formed to ensure that all safety regulations are strictly adhered to.

“In order to ensure that all four characteristics of health and safety regulations are observed, we have decided to form a committee to conduct a general inspection on the third Thursday of every month to eliminate accidents in the company,” he stated.

He added that during the week-long celebration, medical screening, firefighting training and stress management activities would be organised to raise awareness among workers.