Director of Sanitation at the Ministry, Anthony Mensah has revealed that his outfit has spent about GH₵3.7 million since the Public Litter Bin Scheme was launched in 2019.

Speaking on the sidelines after handing over some bins to the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), Mr Mensah explained that although the target is to distribute 20,000 bins across the country, 8,100 bins have been circulated to various public and private institutions.

This, he added, is to aggressively deal with the unsanitary situation in the country.

“Under the first and second phases, we distributed some 5, 100 bins which covered the Kumasi Metropolitan, Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolitan, Tamale Metropolitan and Municipal assemblies in the Greater Accra region.

“The third phase which is ongoing now comprises of 3, 000 at the cost GH₵1.7 million. But for the previous phases, I do not have the exact figure but it will be twice as much of this figure, which will be about GH₵3.7million,” he said.

The sector Minister, Cecelia Abena Dapaah who led the handing over exercise said 122,000 household toilets have also been constructed by the Ministry to tackle open defecation in communities.

She further commended journalists for supporting the sanitation campaign and urged them to heighten discussions on sanitation in the country, noting that it was necessary because the campaign had helped reduced cholera and other sanitation-related diseases in the country.

GJA President, Roland Affail Monney said the gesture highlights the need for journalists to place importance on social stories such as sanitation.