Accra, Ghana, August 28, 2023 – The World Bank has granted a substantial financial boost of $125 million to support a crucial five-year initiative led by the Ministry of Sanitation and Water Resources (MSWR). The project aims to enhance the capabilities of environmental officers to effectively prosecute cases related to sanitation offences within the legal system.
Previously, in 2015, the World Bank had extended financial assistance totaling $150 million for the project’s initial phase, which was implemented as a pilot project in the Greater Accra and Ashanti regions.
During a recent two-day workshop held in Wa, which brought together 40 environmental officers hailing from two regions, the Programme Manager of the MSWR, Charlotte Akwaah Adjei Marfo, shared insights about the World Bank’s ongoing support for this endeavor.
She underscored the vital role that the enforcement of sanitation laws plays in enhancing the overall sanitation conditions across the country, ultimately contributing to the prevention of disasters such as flooding during heavy rainfall.
Commencement of the Second Phase
The workshop conducted in Wa marked the commencement of the project’s second phase, which is slated to conclude in 2024. Environmental officers from the Upper West and East Regions were actively involved in this phase.
Throughout the workshop, various topics were addressed, including the jurisdiction of the courts, the ethical standards for environmental health prosecutors, procedures for the summary trial of cases, and the drafting of summons and charge sheets, among other essential aspects.
This project aligns seamlessly with the government’s strategic efforts to realize Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6, which focuses on ensuring access to clean water and sanitation for all.
Importance of By-laws and Enforcement
Kweku Quansah, the Deputy Director of the MSWR, emphasized that the project was prompted by the observation that environmental officers faced significant challenges when attempting to prosecute sanitation-related offences. This issue contributed to the unsightly filth that often accumulates in the environment.
One of the key obstacles identified was the absence of officially gazetted by-laws in many districts. This absence complicated the process of prosecuting cases in court for environmental officers. Consequently, their confidence in prosecuting such cases remained low.
To address this hurdle, Mr. Quansah revealed that the MSWR would commence by ensuring the proper gazetting of all relevant by-laws. Subsequently, these documents would be made accessible to officers for their study.
He expressed the belief that the effective prosecution of offenders would lead to a cleaner environment, thereby facilitating better sanitation and access to safe water for society as a whole.
Freda Naah, the Regional Head of the Environmental Health and Sanitation Directorate, emphasized the importance of the workshop and urged officers to take it seriously. She highlighted that such initiatives were essential for the cleanliness of their respective communities.
Mrs. Naah lamented the historical lack of enforcement in the prosecution of offenders, which had led to issues such as excessive piles of rubbish and clogged drains in communities over the years.
Source : Joynews