Zakaria Yidana
The North East Regional Minister, Zakaria Yidana has cautioned residents in the region to desist from practicing open defecation.
“ Residents of North East I say to you stop open defecation North East region deserves better.”
The Minister warned that persons arrested for practicing open defection in the region will be arraigned before court and prosecuted by law.
He lauded the Nayiri the King of Mamprugu and his leaders for giving residents of Nalerigu three months notice to build toilet facilities in their homes or risk being jailed by the authorities.
He made this known at the North East Regional Open Defecation Free League Table Launch held on September 2,2021 at Nalerigu in the North East region.
The launch of the North East Regional Open Defecation Free League Table is key activity of the regional coordinating council’s effort to ensure that the region improve on open defecation and basic sanitation in the North East region.
The Minister tasked all MMDAs to set up Committees to start working on the draft bylaw as soon as possible adding that it is the goal of the regional coordinating council to have all MMDAs with their bylaws accepted by the middle of next year.
Mr. Yidana disclosed that currently 22% of Ghanaians still defecate in the open while 21% have access to basic sanitation.
He said open defecation is dangerous as contact with its human waste can cause disease such as cholera, diarrhea,typhoid and other diseases.
“the region has improved in their fight against open defection and access to basic sanitation.”
The Bunkpurugu-Nakpanduri district emerged as the best open defecation free district followed by West Mamrusi Municipality , Yunyoo/Nansua, East Mamprusi, Chereponi and Mamprugu/Moagdori district.
The North East Regional Minister commended all development partners for their support for the fight against open defecation and improving basic sanitation in the region.
He applauded the Bunkpurugu/Nakpanduri and Yunyoo/Nansua district assemblies for improving in the open defecation free communities from 20%-30% in 2018 to 40%-50.4% respectively.
“ North East wants to be the first region in the country to be the first to declare all districts open defecation free.”
FROM Eric Kombat, Nalerigu