WASH Technical Specialist at World Vision Ghana, Yaw Atta Arhin, has lamented the lack of effective implementation of laws on sanitation, describing the situation as a huge challenge for the country.

He observed that the lack of enforcement is affecting the efforts of children and other stakeholders working to improve sanitation conditions in the various communities in the country.

"Ghana doesn’t lack laws, policies and plans on sanitation. We have Environmental Sanitation Policy, National and District Environmental Sanitation Strategy and Action plans, and others," he said.

“If all Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies were implementing or enforcing the bylaws, Ghana will go far and improve on sanitation service delivery”.

Yaw Atta Arhin made the remarks at the Northern Sector Masters Encounter of the Schools Sanitation Solutions Challenge in Sunyani in the Bono Region, a World Vision Ghana initiative.

Mr Arhin said the initiative encourages the children to cultivate a keen interest in environmental sanitation issues, empowers them to create sustainable solutions to everyday challenges, helps them to influence the people around them and equips them with the tools to advocate improved water sanitation and hygiene services.

After 5 years of its implementation, he said the solutions proffered by the children in the various challenges will be put into what he described as an “Ideas Bank”, which will also be published.

“We intend to put them together as a network where they will become more like a think tank with the capacity to provide periodic solutions as and when they come to mind”, he noted.

He also stressed the significant impact the challenge, through the children, has brought to bear on schools and communities in the improvement of water, sanitation and hygiene.

“Some of them have YouTube pages where they engage their peers. Others go to schools and teach their fellow students the best ways to improve sanitation around them”, he said.

According to Frank Ofosu Appiah, Operations Manager for Kings Hall Media, partners of the initiatives, Ghana can do more to achieve the target of the Sustainable Development Goal if sanitation is prioritised.

He said prioritization will ensure constant investment and the implementation of sustainable sanitation solutions for all.

The essay topic opened to children from Primary 6 to Junior High School 2 was, “Government, Development partners and citizens have all expressed concern about the poor sanitation situation in the country. As the Presidential Candidate for the 2024 General Elections, outline in your manifesto why and how you propose to address the situation if elected”.

Thousands of entries were received from 15 out of 16 regions with the top 5 selected from each of the 4 zones –Shed, Cocoa, Tilapia, and Coconut Zones. Each winner from the zones will compete in the final on 23rd September 2024 in Accra.

Christiana Sefakor Sedenkor of Koforidua Presby E won the Cocoa Zone contest and said it is important for their voices to be heard on measures for sustainable sanitation solutions.

Winner of the Shear zone, Abdul Yezid Faraj Timtooni Wumbei of Grace Holy Child Academy, Tamale in the Northern Region, urged other children to join them in their efforts to keep Ghana clean.