By Antoinette Abbah
Adjoa Gyakoa Appiah-Kubi, a 14-year-old JHS 2 student from Efutu M/A Basic School at Cape Coast in the Central Region, has been crowned Child Sanitation Diplomat 2023/2024.
She succeeds Maame Akua Ohenewaa Gyimah, whose mandate officially ends on September 30, 2023. In her victory speech, an elated Ms Appiah-Kubi said solid waste management would be her top priority.
The School Sanitation Solutions, Triple S, Challenge is an annual contest on environmental sanitation organised for pupils in basic schools from Class 6 to JHS 2.
During this year’s grand finale, Ms. Appiah-Kubi garnered the most points in the contest, beating off competition from Vanessa Asiedu, who placed second; Hannah Forkuo, third; and Vanessa Wenaba, fourth.
Ms. Appiah-Kubi said her utmost priority is to educate Ghanaians on solid waste management.
“I was very excited when I was announced as the winner of the challenge. I didn’t expect it. I didn’t expect to be the winner, but I am grateful to God for making me the winner. I am grateful for my friends and family for their prayers and support in making me reach the finals and win as the Child Sanitation Diplomat. For the one year, my focus will be on solid waste management. I would educate people on how to manage their solid waste and other waste that they produce. I would also encourage other colleagues to learn and study so that they can also get to this point,” she said.
A speech read on behalf of Minister of Sanitation, Freda Prempeh, by the Director at the Ministry of Sanitation, Patricia Dovi Sampson, said government will ensure better access to proper sanitation, reducing the prevalence of open defecation, and improving overall public health.
“Poor sanitation and hygiene in schools, communities, and workplaces reduce productivity due to ill health. I am happy to inform that government is passionate and committed to investing in the health and wellbeing of our people through the improvement of water sanitation and hygiene delivery services nationwide. Government would also ensure that there are places of convenience in every school.”
National Director of World Vision Ghana, Laura Del Valle, said sanitation remains a major challenge for Ghana. She said empowering children to advocate the removal of barriers and promote access to improved sanitation is a noble cause.
Madam Valle called on all stakeholders to collectively continue to empower, support, and lead advocacy for improved water, sanitation, and hygiene. This year’s Sanitation Challenge was preceded by a Children’s Sanitation Fair, a platform through which students send out sensitisation messages through drama, music, dance, and poetry, among others.
The winner received a laptop, plaque and cash prize among others. This year’s Triple Challenge and Sanitation Fair was jointly organised by World Vision Ghana, Kings Hall Media, Zoomlion Foundation, Ministry of Sanitation and Water Resources, GAMA Sanitation and Water Project, and Ghana Education Service.