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Minister unveils inter-district ODF league table

The Northern Regional Minister, Mr Shani Alhassan Shaibu has unveiled the 8th Inter-District Open Defecation Free (ODF) League Table in Tamale.

Date Created : 3/22/2022 12:00:00 AM : Story Author : Sulemana Yakubu/Ghanadistricts.com

The Inter-District ODF League Table was instituted by the Northern Regional Coordinating Council in collaboration with Regional Inter Agency Co-coordinating Committee (RICCS) to improve upon the sanitation situation by creating positive competition amongst MMDAs in the region in the fight against Open Defecation.

The Minister disclosed that issues relating to sanitation and hygiene received little to no attention previously, until a few years ago when the United Nations saw the need to give much focus to issues regarding clean water and sanitation, hence, captured it as part of the Sustainable Development Goals.

“These goals were signed on by member countries to achieve the goals’ targets by 2030. In tackling and ensuring that the Goal 6 of the SDG is achieved, strategies were developed at the National level to combat the problems relating to sanitation,” he added.

According to him, the Northern region has seen great improvements in the ODF performance, and this is as a result of the collective efforts put in by the MMDAs and relevant stakeholders.

“The ODF coverage at the introduction of the league table stood at 8%, and as at December 2021, the ODF coverage for the region was at 60%,” he said.

He commended the Metropolitan Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs)for putting in marvelous efforts in the attainment of the regional ODF goal. He extended his special gratitude to development partners especially UNICEF for their tremendous support in contributing towards this achievement.

He encouraged the MMDAs and relevant bodies in the WASH sector, to continue doing their best in ensuring that the overall objective of the Open Defecation Free initiative in the region is attained.

He challenged stakeholders to work assiduously towards the task ahead and ensure that by 2030, the region will fully realize the ODF goals.

He urged all MMDAs to support the environmental health officers with the needed resources to enhance sanitation and hygiene in the region.

The League Table displayed the results of the 16 MMDAs as follows;

Yendi Municipal Assembly emerged first with 77%. Kpandia and Tatale were second and third with 74% and 68% respectively. Followed by Gushegu-65%, Saboba-63%, Mion-60% Zabzugu-59%, Karaga-58%, Nanumba North-58%, Nanumba South-55%, Tamale Metro-52% Nanton-47% Sagnarigu-46% Tolon-45% Kumbungu-44% and Savelugu-37%.

According to the Regional Environmental Health Director, Sulemana Yakubu, the criteria use in scoring the districts include the number of household toilets available, the ODF sustainability, and District ownership, participation and commitment to achieve district wide ODF.