Member of Parliament for Salaga South, Zuwera Mohammed Ibrahimah, has disputed claims that the current government has done little to improve sanitation and water services. She stated that the Parliamentary Select Committee on Sanitation and Water Resources' ongoing field monitoring exercise has revealed visible improvements in several communities across the Volta and Oti Regions. Residents and local authorities have implemented sanitation interventions that are beginning to change conditions in some communities.
Ms. Zuwera emphasized that the improvements do not mean the sanitation challenges have been fully resolved. She noted that in one and a half years, many communities have seen significant changes, but there will always be room for improvement. The Committee's field engagements have demonstrated that improving sanitation requires more than government investment, stressing the importance of behavioral change at the household and community levels.
One of the encouraging developments, according to Ms. Zuwera, is the attention some communities are beginning to pay to household waste management. She highlighted that local assemblies play a crucial role in sanitation, starting from the household level before becoming a national issue. If households and communities do not manage waste effectively, it becomes a concern for the entire nation.
The Parliamentary Select Committee on Sanitation and Water Resources continues its nationwide monitoring exercise, engaging Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies and assessing sanitation and water projects funded with public resources. The Committee aims to examine how such interventions are being implemented and their impact on communities.
Ms. Zuwera's comments come as the Committee continues its monitoring exercise, with a focus on engaging local authorities and assessing the effectiveness of sanitation projects. She stressed that sanitation remains an ongoing challenge requiring sustained investment and greater responsibility from households, communities, and local authorities.
The Salaga South MP cited her constituency, Nkwanta South, as an example of a community that has seen improvements in sanitation. She stated that anyone who claims that there have been no improvements may be "living in another world." Ms. Zuwera's assertions are based on her firsthand observations and interactions with residents and local authorities during the Committee's field monitoring exercise.
The government's efforts to improve sanitation have been acknowledged, but the challenges persist. According to the Ministry of Local Government, only 59.3% of Ghanaian households have access to improved toilet facilities. The Parliamentary Select Committee on Sanitation and Water Resources will continue to monitor and engage local authorities to ensure that sanitation remains a priority.
Key points
- The Ghanaian government has made notable improvements in sanitation in various communities, according to Salaga South MP Zuwera Mohammed Ibrahimah.
- The Parliamentary Select Committee on Sanitation and Water Resources continues its nationwide monitoring exercise to assess the effectiveness of sanitation projects.
- Sanitation remains an ongoing challenge in Ghana, requiring sustained investment and greater responsibility from households, communities, and local authorities.
