Nana Kofi Awiah II, Chief of Soko in the Kwabre Afigya North district of the Ashanti Region, has lauded the household toilet initiative spearheaded by former Minister of Sanitation and Water Resources, Madam Cecelia Abena Dapaah, for its significant impact on curbing open defecation in his community.
The project, officially known as the Greater Accra Metropolitan and Kumasi Metropolitan Assemblies (GAMA/GKMA) project, was a collaborative effort between the Government of Ghana and the World Bank.
It focused on providing bio-digester toilet facilities to households within the Greater Accra and Kumasi Metropolitan Assemblies, aiming to improve sanitation and public health.
Speaking at a community gathering held on Sunday, May 111th, at the Soko Community Center, Nana Kofi Awiah II highlighted the positive transformation the project has brought to his town.
He recalled the sanitation challenges Soko faced prior to the initiative, which led to widespread open defecation despite his efforts to enforce laws against it.
“About two years ago, we were struggling with sanitation issues,” Nana Kofi Awiah II explained. “Open defecation llqlqql in place to punish lloffenders.”
He expressed his gratitude to Madam Cecelia Abena Dapaah, whose ministry oversaw the implementation of the project. He explained that after being introduced to the bio-digester toilet project, Project Coordinator Ing. George Asiedu dispatched field workers to assess the community’s needs.
Following approval, the project was rolled out, and the results have been transformative, the chief asserted.
Currently, approximately 150 households in Soko boast ultra-modern bio-digester toilet facilities in their homes. “I am very grateful to the former Minister of Sanitation and .Water Resources, Madam Cecelia Abena Dapaah, the Ghana government, and the World Bank for this project,” Nana Kofi Awiah II stated.
“this is a heartfelt expression of appreciation from Sokohene.”
In addition to the toilet facilities, Nana Kofi Awiah II also commended the ministry for addressing the town’s water challenges. He proudly stated that Soko enjoys some of the best water and sanitation infrastructure in the district.
With improved access to clean water and sanitation, the community has effectively eradicated sanitation-related hazards and epidemics.
Sokohene appealed to the current administration under President John Dramani Mahama to prioritize and expand the project to benefit even more Ghanaians.
Project Coordinator Ing. George Asiedu, in an exclusive separate interview, expressed his gratitude to the World Bank for its financial collaboration with the Ghana government.
He highlighted the success of the GAMA/GKMA toilet and water projects, emphasizing their positive impact on the lives of countless Ghanaians.
Ing. Asiedu revealed that as of December 2024, the Ministry of Sanitation and Water Resources, through GAMA/GKMA, had successfully completed over 30,000 bio-digester toilet facilities for households, including several schools, in Accra and Kumasi.
He affirmed that the project is ongoing and encouraged Ghanaians to take advantage of the opportunity to acquire these facilities, ultimately improving sanitation within their homes and communities.
The success story of Soko serves as a testament to the effectiveness of the GAMA/GKMA project and underscores the importance of continued investment in sanitation infrastructure to improve public health and well-being across Ghana.
