Harm Duiker, Country Director of SNV Netherlands Development Organisation, says 259 communities under its Sustainable Sanitation and Hygiene For All (SSH4A) project have been certified by the Regional Inter-Agency Coordinating on Sanitation as open defecation free.
The SSH4A has been implemented in eight areas, namely the Komenda-Edina-Eguafo-Abrem (KEEA) Municipality in the Central Region, Jasikan District in the Volta Region, East Gonja, Naumba South, Saboba and Chereponi Districts in the Northern Region and Lawra and Nandom Districts in the Upper West Region.
He said the SSH4A, implemented along the Ghana Rural Sanitation Model, is aimed at promoting positive behaviours among inhabitants of beneficiary communities to improve sanitation facilities and proper hand washing practices.
Mr Duiker stated that the project learning event is on the theme: “Community-Led Total Sanitation CLTS; the approach to achieving sustainable access and improved sanitation in Ghana.”
The forum, organised by SNV in partnership with UKaid, created a common platform for beneficiary districts to share experiences, achievements, lessons learnt and highlight the entire overview of the SSH4A Project.
Mr Duiker said the project launched a low-cost pro-poor latrine option and trained artisans in its construction and promotion.
He said poverty and impact of previous subsidised sanitation projects were factors that affected its smooth roll out in some project districts.
The SNV Country Director said all the districts would attest to the fact that the project had made significant gains in sanitation and hygiene.
“The fear of SNV is the ability of the district assemblies to sustain these gains,” Mr Duiker stated.
Mr Duiker further noted that the project had instituted a District Inter-Agency Coordinating Committee on Sanitation to develop working documents.
He said “it is my expectation that adequate funds are made available for the continuity of the sanitation interventions.”
Rita Ambadire, SSH4A Project Country Lead, also noted that recommendations from the regions include an effective enforcement of sanitation by-laws to ensure landlords and occupants of residential own and use toilets.
She said there should be mandatory allocation of budget for sanitation implementation (CLTS) with effective monitoring to ensure compliance.
Anne Mutta, Multi-Country Programme Manager for SSH4A Results Programme, who spoke to Ghana News Agency (GNA), said they were implementing the project across eight countries in Africa and Asia to increase and accelerate progress towards rural sanitation.
“We have seen almost a 40 percent increase in people having access to hand washing facilities and 40 percent reduction in open defecation across the prime areas they covered, Mrs Mutta said.
She noted that the government was committed to eradicating open defecation in Ghana by 2025.
“It would take more commitment to be able to achieve such objectives, it has taken us four years to reach 129,000 people.”
Mrs Mutta was hopeful more resources would be allocated to address rural sanitation.
GNA