The Akrofuom District Assembly has taken steps to end open defecation in the district. Among them include the commissioning of a 20-seater-water-closet toilet facility with shower built in to replace a 90-year-old toilet structure at Akrofuom Ward 3. The project was funded by the Minerals Development Fund at a cost of GH¢323,026.
The Chairman of the Local Management Committee (LMC) set up to manage the Mineral Development Fund, Nana Asare Bediako said that for 90 years the people of Akrofuom had not seen any decent place of convinience. This puts pressure on the dilapidated 90-year-old toilet structure serving the community.
“It is a year now since the inauguration of the Akrofuom LMC together with Obuasi East and since then the committee has not rested in terms of development and now the Akrofuom LMC is the first LMC to make use of their Mineral Development Fund,” Nana added.
District Chief Executive for Akrofuom, Maurice Jonas Woode, who led the team including the Member of Parliament, Alex Blankson to commission the project said the project is in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 6 which elaborates on adequate access to sanitation and an end to open defecation in 2030.
Popularly known as ‘Commissioner of commission’, the DCE added that for 90 years the dilapidated toilet structure has been the only access of defecation for 60 percent of Akrofuom’s residents therefore there was a need for a new one to help achieve the SDG goal 6 and bring development to the lives of the residents.
Mr. Blankson, the MP, in his short speech, pleaded with the representatives of the Minerals Development Fund to increase their percentage from 2 to 5 percent. This, according to him, will help accelerate development in the district.
He lauded the President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo for the introduction of the MDF. He opined that this will help reduce the pressure on their common fund. He urged the people to adhere to maintenance culture and protect the facility for the benefit of future generations.
Administrator for the Minerals Development Fund, Dr. Norris Kweku Hammah said the project is in line with the MDF bottom-up approach management system where the community decide on the projects they wish to expend their MDF funds on.
He added that this is the beginning of a new era under the Nana Addo administration where mining communities will see major infrastructural development as demonstrated in the other parts of the world where mineral resources are mined.
According to Dr. Hammah, 20% of the MDF is given to mining communities through the Local Management Committee for the socio economic growth of the community.
Speaking on galamsey, he said government’s objective to clamp down on the activities of illegal mining is on course. He added that, the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources through the Minerals Development Fund will roll out a project called the Social Intervention for Mining Affected Communities.
This, according to him, will directly benefit at least 10, 000 youth identified in mining communities through mentorship, technical, vocational and entrepreneurship skills training leading to employment and empowerment.
He concluded by thanking AngloGold Ashanti for their contribution to the LMC in the form of royalty payment and urged the people of Akrofuom to adhere to maintenance culture.
