By: Krobea Asante Tofepa – Ntomentwene
Some chiefs including many inhabitants of Ogome, a community in the Yilo Krobo municipality of the eastern region were on Monday thrown into a state of hopelessness and disappointment, after several hours spent in wait of the Municipal Chief Executive to commission a public toilet facility proved futile.
The municipal chief executive, Andrews Sodah in a letter dated 16th February, 2016 and copied to the divisional chief of Ogome, Messrs TDK Company Ltd- Accra, the municipal works engineer and the environmental health officer indicated, “in view of the successful completion of the construction works on the Ogome public toilet facility, I wish to inform you that there will be a formal handing over of the facility to the community on Monday, 22nd February, 2016 at 3.00 p.m. prompt”.
“I hereby respectfully request you in consultation with the divisional chief and elders for the area, to organize the community members to meet the municipal chief executive and his entourage for handing over ceremony”.
However, this message which was well received turned out to be a fallacy as the MCE never whistled out his decision to postpone the ceremony.
In an interview with some residents and elders of the community, absence of a toilet facility in the area has left many to resort to open defecation, with many also going to the bush or visiting nearby communities.
Ogome Paul Blepo, Gyaasehene of the area said that it was shocking to them chiefs that Honorable Sodah never showed up, let alone failing to give a prior notice of his intention for a postponement. However, he was optimistic that the MCE will not delay in handing over as the plight of the community was not a new one in his register.
“Our women and children have to carry cutlasses to the bush and if this new facility is handed over to us, we elders can at least sleep and come out of this shame of not having a place of convenience, especially for strangers when there is funeral and festivities” he added.
The agitated and worried elders and inhabitants has therefore called on the Chief executive to as a matter of urgency, come out boldly to explain why he failed to show up to commission the project even though it was completed and ready to use.
Source: ritefmonline.org
