Sanitation now key yardstick for MMDCEs - Minister

Ghanaian authorities are elevating sanitation to a critical performance metric for local government leaders, Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs). This strategic shift aims to bolster accountability and drive significant improvements in national environmental cleanliness.

The government's policy is designed to instill a greater sense of responsibility among local authorities, thereby expediting the resolution of persistent sanitation challenges. These include widespread open defecation, inadequate waste management systems, and general environmental degradation. The Deputy Minister of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, Rita Naa Odoley Sowah, conveyed this commitment at the Fifth Multi-Stakeholder Executive Breakfast Conversation on Sanitation in Accra.

This initiative underscores the government's dedication to integrating sanitation concerns into the core of local development planning, moving it from the periphery. With a substantial portion of households still lacking access to proper toilet facilities and open defecation remaining a practice for many, the need for robust local leadership and accountability is paramount. Sanitation is now framed not just as an environmental issue, but as a critical aspect of governance, public health, economic growth, and overall national development.

Local assemblies will now be evaluated not only on traditional infrastructure projects like roads and markets but also on the cleanliness and environmental conditions within their jurisdictions. The Minister of Labour, Jobs and Employment, Dr. Rashid Pelpuo, highlighted sanitation's economic dimension, noting the potential for job creation within the sanitation value chain, including waste collection, recycling, and resource recovery. He stressed the importance of ensuring decent working conditions in this sector.

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Sanitation as a Key Performance Indicator for MMDCEs and the Role of Relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies: Prospects, Opportunities and Constraints.