The Tamale Metropolitan Assembly (TaMA) in collaboration with its development partner Catholic Relief Service (CRS) has on Thursday June 16, 2022, launched Citywide Sanitation Plan for the management of sanitation in the greater Tamale.
The initiative aimed at ensuring safe, adequate, equitable, and sustainable sanitation for the residents within the metropolis.
It also seeks to facilitate effective coordination, enhanced collaboration, adequate planning and provide comprehensive city-wide blueprint for the management of urban sanitation to achieve the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6.
In his address, the Tamale Metropolitan Chief Executive Sule Salifu said the Citywide Sanitation Plan serves as a reference document that maps out the sanitation needs that intend to improve the sanitation outlook for Tamale in line with SDGs 6 and 11.
He indicated that, the initiative first of its kind in the region is in line with the Mission Statement of the Assembly which seeks to enhance the quality of lives of the people by facilitating the maintenance of law and order, and mobilizing the physical and financial resources to provide quality socio economic service for the people.
“The development of this plan shows leadership commitment from the Assembly to prioritize WASH in the development agenda of the metropolis. The plan seeks to set a framework for WASH intervention and realize the vision of the Assembly to achieve a clean and environmentally friendly metropolis”, he said.
He assured that, the management of the assembly under his leadership would work with the development partners to provide adequate and sustainable financing for water, hygiene and sanitation service for residents in the metropolis.
On her part, the Head of Programmes at CRS Madam Carolyn Edlebeck stated that, the act establishes MMDAs mandated assemblies to plan, budget and implement intervention to improve delivery and better lives of their people.
She said, the access to basic sanitation service currently stands at 21%, “and if investment in sanitation is not increased, Ghana may not meet the target of providing safe sanitation to all by 2030″.
She added that, CRS has provided technical and financial support in the plan development process in the 2-3 years as it aligns with the strategic goals, vision, and mission of CRS which seeks to catalyze transformational change at scale, build a more just, equitable and prosperous world for all where local leadership and local solutions are key.
Madam Carolyn Edlebeck, in her remarks mention that CRS through the Urban WASH and Resilience Project has been working with Tamale Metropolitan and Sagnarigu Municipal Assemblies to implement key sanitation interventions in the past 3 years.
She mentions the intervention which include, 580 household toilets in Tamale Metropolis and Sagnarigu serving over 4,000 beneficiaries, Rehabilitation of 7 public toilets and facilities RICCS certification of 3 of the public toilets as WASH friendly, supported establishment of ODF league table for Senior High Schools, revamping and training of 30 Water and Sanitation Management Teams establishment of Tamale Water Fund among others.
She said, CRS is committed to continuing to provide technical support for the delivery of safe water, sanitation and hygiene services in Tamale.
Story By: Alhassan Yakubu |www.diamondfmonline.com |Ghana