By: Franklin ASARE-DONKOH
The 5th edition of the School Sanitation Solutions (Triple S) Challenge has been launched in Accra with a call on the government and its partners to prioritise Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) in schools.
While Ghana is said to have made remarkable progress in respect of access to safe water, it is regrettable that the same cannot be said about environmental sanitation. Progress towards universal access to improved sanitation and ending open defecation continues to be very slow.
For these and other reasons, the WVG and its partners Kings Hall Media, in collaboration with Junior Graphic, came up with Triple S Challenge initiative, which offers an opportunity for pupils from the basic and Junior High Schools to profess sustainable solutions to our sanitation challenges.
The first edition of the Triple S challenge, where the winner is crowned “Child Sanitation Diplomats” to lead his or her peers on environmental issues, was launched in September 2019.
The launch of the 5th edition, which took place at the plush Fiesta Royal Hotel in Accra, Ghana, brought together WASH experts, stakeholders, students, and teachers from some selected schools in the Greater Accra region.
Addressing the gathering on behalf of the Integrated Programs Director at WVG, the WASH Technical Specialist, Mr. Attah Arhin, revealed that the Triple S challenge initiated by WVG has made the desired impact and become one of the most important events on World Vision Ghana’s calendar of activities and that of the WASH and Education Sectors.
According to him, the active involvement and support from all relevant stakeholders—Kings Hall Media, the Ministry of Sanitation and Water Resources, the School Health Education Program Unit under the Ghana Education Service, the GAMA Sanitation and Water Project, Zoomlion Foundation, among others has made the challenge a very unique one.
“I am happy to announce that tremendous progress has been made towards the achievement of the following objectives of the Triple S challenge: Influencing children to become sanitation conscious and agents of change, Challenging children to co-create sustainable solutions to sanitation challenges around them and last but not the least Advocating for the removal of barriers and increased access to improved sanitation, particularly in basic schools.
The 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th Child Sanitation Diplomats – Neriah Tettey of Silicon Valley International School, Ofankor, Accra, Naziru Mawadatu of Damongo Girls Model JHS, Maame Akua Ohenewaa Gyimah of Dawhenya Methodist ‘B’ Basic School, and Adjoa Gyakoa Appiah-kubi of Efutu MA Basic School have all been worthy ambassadors in the effort to defeat poor sanitation.
Neriah’s Facebook posts, media engagements, community outreaches, and peer sensitization received various commendations. Mawada’s visits to the Yabonwura, Savannah Regional Minister and Municipal Chief Executive, Regional and Municipal Directors of Education, and the creation of her YouTube have made tremendous impact.
Her speech at the annual Mole XXXII WASH Conference at the Anita Hotel in Kumasi was very thought provoking and received thunderous applause. Maame Akua’s project was impactful both locally and internationally.
Her visit to the Minister for Sanitation and Water Resources was very memorable. Adjoa’s project has just begun, and from all indications, she’s off to a great start. She’s hosted a number of activities, including an Executive Breakfast Conversation in Cape Coast. She is being supported to implement the rest of her 1-year sanitation project till a new Child Sanitation Diplomat is crowned, and she will tell us what she has been doing,” Mr Arhin said.
According to the WASH Technical Specialist at WVG his organization being believers in a better world for children, emphasized that World Vision Ghana and partners are ready to partner the government through its assigned Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), Development Partners, NGOs, CSOs and all other relevant stakeholders to accelerate access to improved basic sanitation in the country.
Meanwhile, the Environmental Health and Sanitation Director at
the Ministry of Sanitation and Water Resources, Mr Kweku Quansah, who represented the minister, Madam Lydia Seyram Alhassan at the function, advocated for more platforms for children to make their voices heard.
He explained that majority of Ghana’s population are youth between the ages of 15-40 yet they are not given the opportunity to be part of decision making.
The youth, he added have very brilliant ideas that can help solve most of the country’s problems especially in the area of WASH.
He reiterated the ministry’s pledged to support the Triple S Challenge initiative.
