The Parliamentary Committee on Sanitation and Water Resources is calling on the Ministry of Finance to urgently release funds to facilitate the posting of Environmental Health Officers to Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies (MMDAs) across the country.
The committee stressed that this move is critical to addressing Ghana’s growing sanitation challenges.
According to the committee, the current number of Environmental Health Officers falls far short of international standards.
While the World Health Organisation (WHO) recommends one Environmental Health Officer per 800 people, Ghana’s current ratio stands at over one officer for every 8,000 people.
Adding to the concern, more than 2,000 graduates from the nation’s Schools of Hygiene have remained unposted since 2021, despite the urgent need for personnel.
Speaking to journalists, Committee Chairman John Oti Bless underscored the need for government action.
“Over 2,000 graduates have been sitting at home since 2021. They have not been posted, and we think that is unfortunate. We know our colleague, the Finance Minister, is a listening person.
“They should do everything possible to issue clearance to the ministries so these young graduates can be posted.”
He added that without proper staffing, the country’s efforts to improve sanitation are severely hindered.
“Today, at many MMDAs, one environmental officer is responsible for over 8,000 people. How are we going to succeed in the fight against sanitation? We want a clean environment,” he stated.
The committee’s appeal comes amid rising concerns over poor sanitation in several communities across the country.
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