In a bid to prevent the outbreak of cholera, the Member of Parliament for Suhum, Frank Asiedu Bekoe, convened a stakeholders’ meeting to brainstorm and develop strategies to tackle the sanitation challenges facing the constituency.
The meeting, held at the Suhum Pentecost Church, brought together a diverse group of stakeholders, including chiefs, opinion leaders, market women, security agencies, media personnel, artisans, and assembly members.
The move is a response to the growing concern over the poor sanitation situation in Suhum, which has been exacerbated by a leadership gap in the management of the municipal assembly.
With the government yet to nominate Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) across Ghana, the community has been left to grapple with the challenges of poor sanitation, which has the potential to trigger the outbreak of diseases like cholera.
Addressing journalists, the MP, Frank Bekoe explained that “In fact, there has been a leadership gap as far as the management of the municipal assembly is concerned. Because, as you are aware, the government has not nominated its MCEs across Ghana.”
He further emphasized the need for collective action, stating, “And if you come to the community, we are engulfed with a lot of filth. There is a need for us to take proactive steps to ensure that we prevent the outbreak of diseases.”
Frank Asiedu Bekoe also explained the rationale behind convening the stakeholders’ meeting, saying, “So I decided to meet all stakeholders as far as the development of this community is concerned. So I invited the local council of churches. I invited the chiefs, all eight assembly members, the municipal health director. I also invited the sanitation officer for the environmental office for the municipal assembly.”
He announced the formation of an 18-member task force to coordinate sanitation efforts in the constituency, quoting, “We had a very fruitful discussion today. We have also formed a task force, a committee that is going to coordinate, plan and then coordinate the sanitation issues in the zone.”
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), cholera is a highly infectious disease that can spread rapidly in areas with poor sanitation and hygiene.
The organization recommends that communities take proactive steps to prevent the outbreak of cholera, including improving sanitation, providing access to clean water, and promoting good hygiene practices.
The task force 18-member task force has outlined a 15-point plan, which includes a massive cleanup exercise scheduled for March 15, 2025.
The exercise aims to rid the town of filth and other environmental hazards that could contribute to the outbreak of diseases.
The stakeholders’ meeting has also highlighted the importance of collaboration and coordination in preventing the outbreak of cholera.
The meeting brought together officials from Zoomlion, the Municipal Health Directorate, and other key stakeholders to share ideas and develop strategies for addressing the sanitation challenges facing Suhum.
-BY Daniel Bampoe