The Chairman of the Parliamentary Select Committee on Sanitation and Water Resources, Hon. John Oti Bless, is urging the government and relevant authorities to introduce legislation that would establish a dedicated funding source for waste management. He made the call during a monitoring visit to assess sanitation challenges in Tamale, the capital of the Northern Region.
According to Mr. Oti Bless, the committee has studied waste management practices in approximately eight different countries, all of which have a specific tax component dedicated to funding sanitation efforts. This model, he believes, would provide a sustainable and consistent source of revenue to address Ghana’s growing waste management challenges.
During the visit, the committee also toured the Jospong Group of Companies’ Integrated Recycling and Compost Plant (IRECOP) in Tamale and commended the company for its work. Stephen Nuamah, Head of Quality Control and Research at IRECOP, showcased the facility’s use of organic compost to cultivate various crops, including carrots, cabbage, green peppers, and corn, as well as to farm fish.
The committee also paid a courtesy visit to the Tamale Metropolitan Chief Executive, Hon. Alhaji Adam Abubakari Takoro, who briefed them on local sanitation initiatives. These local efforts, he noted, are in line with directives from President John Dramani Mahama to improve sanitation across the country.
Ruth Abla ADJORLOLO
