The reigning Child Sanitation Diplomat, Master Abdul Faraj Yazid Timtoni Wumbei, has launched a campaign to improve sanitation in Ghana, particularly in the Northern Region.
The campaign, which was launched at the Mariam Hotel in Tamale, aims to promote sanitation awareness and influence policy changes.
Faraj, who is a student of Grace Holy Child Academy in Tamale, outlined his campaign strategy, which includes advocacy and policy influence, peer sensitisation, learning and mentorship, and legacy projects.
According to Faraj, his campaign is focused on addressing the poor sanitation situation in the Northern region, where over 50 percent of the population practices open defecation. “I want to use my position to influence government policies in favor of sanitation,” he said.
Northern Regional Minister, Ali Adolf John, who launched the campaign, emphasized the importance of sanitation and pledged his support for Faraj’s campaign. “As the Regional Minister, I accept the challenge to make sanitation a top priority in our development agenda,” he said.
WASH Technical Specialist at World Vision Ghana, Yaw Atta Arhin, in a presentation said the Northern Region is facing significant challenges in sanitation, with over 50% of the population practicing open defecation.
He highlighted the disparities in access to sanitation facilities, with the Region lagging behind other regions.
He noted that 25.3% of the population in the region lacks access to household toilets, and 17.7% engage in open defecation.
Mr. Arhin congratulated Faraj on his achievement and emphasized the importance of involving children in finding solutions to sanitation challenges.
“We believe that children are integral to every home, every community, and every society, and it is simply inappropriate and incomplete to always want to plan everything for them without wanting to listen to them”.
Mr. Arhin, emphasised the importance of sanitation, quoting Kofi Annan, former UN Secretary-General, who said, “We shall not defeat any of the infectious diseases that plague the developing world until we have also won the battle for safe drinking water, sanitation, and basic healthcare.”
The event concluded with stakeholders calling for swift action action, emphasizing the need to prioritize sustainable financing to improve access to WASH services in the Region.
Stakeholders were also tasked to promote behavior change among the people and to develop plans to end open defecation and improve access to household toilets and WASH facilities in schools and healthcare facilities.
The campaign has received support from various stakeholders, including World Vision Ghana, Kings Hall Media, Zoomlion Foundation, Ghana Education Service, and the GAMA Sanitation and Water Project.
Faraj’s campaign is part of the School Sanitation Solutions Challenge, which aims to promote sanitation awareness and improve sanitation facilities in schools.
