Denkyembour District Assembly Holds Environmental Health Sub-committee Meeting
Posted by Elvis Offei-Bekoe - 19th January 2023
On Thursday 19th January 2023, the Environmental Health sub-committee of the Denkyembour District Assembly held its first sub-committee meeting for the year 2023 to discuss issues pertaining to the district’s environmental health and related issues.
The chairman for the sub-committee who doubles as the Assembly member for Boadua East Electoral Area; Honorable Vincent Akorli welcomed all members and wished them a happy new year since it was the first meeting for the year 2023. He also commended the environmental health unit of the assembly for their immense and extraordinary work undertaken for the year 2022 to beef up sanitation issues within the district. He led the house through deliberation, correction and adoption of minutes of previous meeting and acceptance as a working document for the sub-committee.
He briefed the house on the visitation to some selected public schools to carry out sanitation inspection of schools. He mentioned that four schools including Boadua Presby JHS, St Michaels R/C Basic School in Akwatia, and Islamic Basic School in Akwatia and GCD Basic School in Akwatia. According to the chairman, it was observed that most of the toilets used by the schools did not have a linen in their pit latrines which made it very dangerous since it could cause a collapse of these structures. He commented on the general dilapidated nature of the structures as well. He mentioned that the new 6 unit classroom block being constructed at Boadua Presby under the DACF-RFG fund did not include a toilet facility. He also mentioned that the schools did not have a dumping site for refuse which made the students litter their environment. He recommended that the assembly procure water bins for these schools and charge Zoomlion Ghana Limited to regularly empty it for them.
The District Environmental Health Officer; Mr. Gordon Domi also briefed the house on some planned activities for the year. He mentioned the unit would embark on quarterly clean up exercise. This quarters clean up exercise would be carried out on Saturday 28th January 2023.
He also mentioned the unit would collaborate with the Agric department to monitor oil palm processing centers within the district and sensitize them on how to process palm oil through hygienic means.
He lastly mentioned that the unit would embark on a rigorous arrest of stray animals across the district. He stated that this year’s arrest of stray animals would take a different approach. He mentioned that after the arrest would be made, the owners of the animals would not be cell charged by the assembly but would be processed for court. He also added that, medical screening for food vendors would be undertaken and those who fail to do so would be sent to court.
The chairman in his closing remarks charged the District Information Officer to sensitize the public on Pay as you Dump policy that would be introduced in some selected communities. He then expressed his gratitude to all members and staff for attending the meeting and stated that all recommendations would be sent to the Executive Committee for further approval.