Mr Francis Abotsi, Volta Regional Director of Environmental Health has called for stakeholders meeting to tackle "indiscriminate defecating", in the Ho Municipality in particular and other parts of the region.
He was speaking at the launch of an Environmental Awareness Campaign organised by the Municipal Assembly with support from the city of Lahti in Finland under a Sister-City co-operation pact. It was on the theme "Throw it into the Bin".
Mr Abotsi said a survey indicated that about 70.1 per cent of people residing in new developing townships in the municipality had no toilets.
He said it was completely out of place for a newly constructed accommodation facility to be without toilet facilities and asked why such
building plans were approved.
Mr Abotsi expressed regret that some houses including government quarters were still using pan latrines and hinted that by the close of the
year the "outdated and difficult to manage system" would be completely phased out in the region.
He said the unavailability of disposal sites was a big challenge facing local governing bodies, adding that these bodies also lacked the appropriate bye laws to fight environmental infractions.
Mr Abotsi said the aversion of Ghanaians to drop garbage into litter bins, with the detestable notion that "people had been employed to do the cleaning" was grossly unfortunate and must be corrected.
He hinted that his outfit would undertake an exercise to capture and confine stray animals.
Mr Joseph Yieleh Chireh, Minister of Local Government and Rural Development noted in speech read on his behalf that "poor attitudes and
practices" of individuals were the main challenges in managing sanitation in Ghana.
"Until we are able to appeal to the inner conscience of Ghanaians to respect the environment, I am afraid, we will not achieve much in ensuring clean safe environment," he said.
Mr Chireh announced that his Ministry in collaboration with "key sector players is exploring practical and innovative solutions in the funding and management of waste to ensure sustainability in service delivery".
He said it was sad that at this age of the nation's history, less that 15 per cent of Ghanaians had access to improved latrines while less than 30 per cent of solid waste was properly managed.
Mr Joseph Amenowode, Regional Minister expressed regret about the refusal of drivers and market women to attend the launch, though the
programme was at the Lorry Station, located at the backyard of the market.
He also slammed communities who shun public toilets and rather defecate in open places (free range).
Mr Isaac Kodobisah, Municipal Chief Executive said the Assembly spent GH� 300,000.00 on waste disposal, without yielding many results.
He called for attitudinal change among residents of Ho, urging them to
use the bins provided under the Ho-Lahti collaboration.
Mr Timo Permanto, Environmental Planner of Lahti said he was glad the collaboration was seeing positive results.
Under the collaboration the Finnish city would fund the provision of a dry toilet system for some schools in the municipality.
Pupils of Model and Ho Polytechnic Basic Schools illustrated the importance of good sanitation practices through poetry recitals, drama and songs.