As part of attempts to enforce sanitation bylaws locally, environmental health officials from eight metropolitan, municipal, and district assemblies in the Ashanti Region underwent a capacity building programme to enable them to prosecute environmental and sanitation offences.
The two-day training session held by the Ministry of Sanitation and Water Resources benefited 86 environmental health officials from the assembly undertaking the Greater Kumasi Metropolitan Area Sanitation and Water Project (GKMA SWP).
Suame, Oforikrom, Kumasi, Kwadaso, Asokwa, Old Tafo, Asokore-Mampong, and Ejisu were their home cities.
Basic sanitation laws, district court procedures, the law of evidence, and ethical principles were all explained to the attendees.
To assist them address and dress for courts, they were also guided through court process and moot court sessions.
Objective
The training was designed to increase the environmental health professionals' abilities to successfully prosecute criminals within the Greater Kumasi Area's assemblies.
Additionally, it served to support the work done by environmental health personnel to influence social and behavioural changes in the various communities, particularly in regards to the design and usage of private toilet facilities in households.
Enforcement
Amidu Chinnia Issahaku, Deputy Minister for Sanitation and Water Resources, stated on July 4, 2022 at the beginning of the two-day training course in Kumasi that there was a need to strictly implement the current federal and municipal bylaws.
He claimed that the public's disregard for the environment had made this essential.
He said that individuals would no longer be able to disregard environmental sanitation regulations without consequence and get away with it.
He said that violating sanitary rules had resulted in the loss of lives, property, and livelihoods, as well as incalculable suffering for the afflicted population.
He argued that this was unacceptable and that everyone needed to pitch in to stop this blight.
The deputy minister urged the prosecutors to refrain from manipulating the evidence and taking actions just to get a conviction.
a useful individual
Participants were guided through the rules governing sanitation by Bernard Agortey, a private attorney of Gomda & Associates.
He said that every crime must have a formal definition and corresponding penalty, and as a result, he urged the prosecutors to make certain that the charges against the criminals were accurate before bringing them before the court.
He claimed that would make it easier for them to understand where the offences under the law originated.
The endeavour
Launched in 2021, the Greater Kumasi Metropolitan Area Sanitation and Water Project aims to build 30,000 toilets for families over the next three years.
Additionally, 120 schools and medical facilities are set to receive restrooms as part of the $74 million initiative.