Story by: Ishmael Barfi
The Environmental Health Officers Alliance-Ghana (EHOA-GH) has expressed their gratitude to His Excellency President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo for recognizing their efforts put in place during the COVID-19 pandemic period and continues to discharge their constitutional mandate.
According to them, they sincerely acknowledge this National Recognition and indicated that, they will continue to use their Non-Resourced Environmental Health and Sanitation Offices under the Central Administration of the MMDAs.
This was contained in a press release issued and signed by its National President, Mr. Yaw Akwaa Lartey dated 29th May, 2023 in Accra.
This comes in the wake of President Akufo-Addo Address to the Nation Update No. 29 on measures taken against the spread of Coronavirus and updates on the IMF program on Sunday, 28th May 2023.
“Environmental Health Officers who are the front line and back line health workers wish to thank H. E. The President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo for recognizing the efforts put in place by the Licensed Environmental Health Officers working under the Ministry of Local Government, Decentralization and Rural Development (MLGDRD) for that matter the Office of the Head of Local Government Service (OHLGS) relative to Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs)”.
And also congratulated the Staff of all the Environmental Health and Sanitation Units (EHSUs) in all the 261 Metropolitan Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) for the Selfless Team Work each and everyone exhibited before, during, and after the COVID-19 pandemic in Ghana.
However, the Environmental Health Officers Alliance-Ghana (EHOA-GH) used the release to call on the government to ensure that, the Environmental Health and Sanitation Unit becomes a Department rather than a Single Unit under the Central Administration of the District Assembly without any Budget to run it’s Statutory Duties as the only Public Health Law Enforcement Agents.
Also, wants the Environmental Health and Sanitation Units (EHSUs) to be resourced to be able to tackle any of s pandemics that may arise in the future.
Citing some of the immediate Resources needed as Vehicles, Motorbikes, well equipped offices in the District, Urban, Zonal, and Area Councils of the District Assembly.
Release of the Environmental Health and Sanitation Unit (EHSU) National Budget to aid them to Educate, Inform, and enforce National Laws and the District Assembly by-laws.
Furtherance, ”To make Accra The Cleanest City In Africa” as stated categorically by H.E. The President some time ago in his first term administration a reality, the release reiterated on the need for Environmental Health Officers to be engaged by the Ministry responsible for Environmental Health and resourced fully with all necessary tools and Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs) periodically to execute our over Fifty(50) Statutory Duties in Protecting Public Health and Safety.
In addition to Make Accra the Cleanest City In Africa, Environmental Health Officers must have an Authority to be able to function effectively without any form of victimization as stated in Article 191 of the 1992 Constitution of the Republic of Ghana by the Political and other Stakeholders in the Metropolitan Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs).
And also calling for the passage of the pending “Environmental Health and Sanitation Authority Bill” into law which is still in the drafting stages and is long overdue.
Finally, to realize the “Accra The Cleanest City In Africa” Statutory Uniforms according to EHOA-GH should be provided for all Licensed Environmental Health Officers.
This they believe will make them more visible in the various communities of their jurisdiction because “we are the only Public Health Law Enforcement Agents as stated in reference to Section 14 of the Local Governance Act, 2016 (Act 936)vas the only agents to enforce all Public Health Laws and by-laws of the District Assembly”.
In conclusion, “we the Environmental Health Officers Alliance-Ghana (EHOA-GH) wish to promise H.E. The President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo that, we are ever ready to assist with all legal and statutory mandates bestowed on us as Public Health Law Enforcement Agents to “Making Accra the Cleanest City In Africa” a reality when all the above stated are adhered to within his second term in office accordingly”.
Source: www.thenewindependentonline.com
