Open Defecation: Expose Notorious Communities In Ashanti Region- M-CODe Tells Journalists
The leadership of Media Coalition Against Open Defecation (M-CODe) has tasked journalists in Ashanti region to expose all notorious open defecation communities and sites in the area.
They are also expecting that journalists in the region will challenge relevant authorities and leaders to act by putting in place proactive measures that will kick-out factors causing open defecation and those affecting sanitation.
These among other demands were underlined by the Convener of M-CODe Mr. Emmanuel Addai at the launch of the Ashanti regional branch of the organization in Kumasi on 28th April 2021.
In his presentation, he highlighted worrying statistics vis-à-vis the status-quo of sanitation in Ghana, indicating that 30 percent of basic schools in Ghana lack toilet facilities.
The same challenge he noted is faced by majority of health institutions, explaining that a number of CHIP Compounds, clinics and hospitals in the country at the moment has no toilet facility and that staff resort to open defecation in the bush as the only option for survival.
According to the M-CODe Convener, the remaining 70% who are somehow fortunate also have lavatories that are badly conditioned.
Mr. Emmanuel Addai also brought to light a disturbing and causative factor of open defecation that is inadequate decent and affordable toilet facilities on the various highways.
The foregoing inadequacy he noted compel passengers to defecate in the bush during the course of their journey.
As part of the demand of M-CODe, he appealed to government to develop a road map for the eradication of open defecation and also promote the sanitation model and strategy.
Others are;
- Support small sanitation business
- Sustain the national Open Defecation Free (ODF) campaign
- Make ODF a performance indicator
- Develop a PSI on ending open defecation
- Provide toilets in all schools and healthcare facilities
- Establish the National Sanitation Authority
- Provide decent and affordable toilets on all major highways among others.
Launch
The Ashanti regional branch of the organization was launched by Mr Joseph Donkor, who is the Acting Regional Director for M-CODe.
ABOUT M-CODe
M-Code is made up of media houses including Leaky News Online, Wontumi Radio, Asaase Radio, Ghana News Agency, Ghanaian Times, Ghana Broadcasting Corporation, Multimedia Group, Daily Graphic, Citi Fm among others.
Presently, it operates in Accra, Volta, Northern and Ashanti regions.
OBJECTIVES
Develop the capacity of the media to advocate for improved sanitation especially for the eradication of open defecation in Ghana
To participate in the ongoing advocacy for improvement in systems to eradicate open defecation
Challenge relevant authorities and leadership at all levels to take action to stop open defecation etc
Enock Akonnor