The Parliamentary Select Committee on Sanitation and Water Resources has intensified its nationwide oversight of sanitation service delivery, holding a stakeholder engagement in Komenda in the Central Region to assess operational performance and deepen collaboration among sector players.
The meeting brought together officials from the Komenda-Edina-Eguafo-Abrem Municipal Assembly and key institutions within the water, sanitation and hygiene value chain, including Zoomlion Ghana Limited, the Community Water and Sanitation Agency, the Ghana Water Company Limited and the Environmental Protection Agency.
Chairman of the Committee and Member of Parliament for Nkwanta North, John Oti Bless, said the exercise formed part of Parliament’s constitutional mandate to monitor public service delivery and ensure accountability across local government structures. He explained that the Committee was undertaking a fact-finding mission to evaluate sanitation conditions, identify constraints and propose practical interventions to improve outcomes nationwide.
He urged stakeholders to provide candid assessments of their operations and partnerships, particularly their working relationships with private service providers, stressing that transparency was essential to shaping effective policy responses. “We are here on a fact-finding mission and we expect all stakeholders to speak truthfully about the realities on the ground. We want to understand what is working, what is not working, and how together we can improve sanitation delivery for our people,” he stated.
On behalf of the Municipal Chief Executive, the Municipal Coordinating Director, Richmond Antwi Boateng, welcomed the delegation and described the engagement as timely, noting that such interactions strengthen accountability and support efforts to improve environmental sanitation at the local level.
A detailed briefing by the Municipal Environmental Health Officer, Simon Yao Agadoh, highlighted both progress and challenges within the municipality’s sanitation system. He described the Assembly’s partnership with Zoomlion Ghana Limited as effective, particularly in the management of communal waste containers. However, he disclosed that one of the municipality’s 11 containers had broken down, leaving only 10 operational and placing pressure on waste collection services.
He noted that while waste evacuation generally proceeds smoothly on a weekly schedule, the faulty container has created logistical constraints and requires urgent replacement to maintain efficiency. On fumigation and disinfection, Mr Agadoh said the Assembly continues to receive satisfactory services, adding that there had been no official communication regarding the termination of existing sanitation contracts.
The officer further revealed that the Assembly’s previous corporate cleansing arrangement with Zoomlion ended in 2024, prompting interim measures to retain eight workers from a larger pool of operatives while efforts are underway to secure permanent employment solutions.
Looking ahead, he announced plans to introduce a waste segregation programme to encourage households to separate waste at source, describing the initiative as critical to improving recycling rates and overall sanitation management. He emphasised the need for sustained public education to ensure the success of the policy.
The Committee’s visit forms part of a broader series of engagements across the country aimed at strengthening sanitation systems and addressing persistent challenges in waste management. Officials say insights gathered from the exercise will inform recommendations to enhance service delivery and policy implementation.
In a separate interview, the Municipal Manager of Zoomlion, Mercy Quaye, reaffirmed the company’s commitment to maintaining a clean environment in the municipality, stressing the importance of strong collaboration with local authorities to safeguard public health.
Source:
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