Category: Env. Health

La Dade-Kotopon Municipal Assembly Undertakes Major Clean-Up Initiative

In a significant effort to enhance the cleanliness of the municipality, the La Dade-Kotopon Municipal Assembly (LaDMA) carried out a comprehensive two-day clean-up exercise from July 29th to 30th, 2024. This initiative, spearheaded by the Municipal Chief Executive, Hon. Solomon Kotey Nikoi, in collaboration with the Greater Accra Regional Coordinating Council and Hon. Daniel Nii Kwartei Titus Glover, focused on the electoral areas of Abese/Abafum/Kowe and Lakpaana.

The clean-up drive was part of a broader mission to support the government’s goal of making Accra the cleanest city in Africa and to improve general sanitation within LaDMA. The initiative saw active participation from national service personnel, departmental heads, unit leaders, assembly staff, security forces, various institutions, traders, assembly members, and unit committee members.
Hon. Solomon Kotey Nikoi highlighted that the clean-up was strategically planned to prepare the selected areas for the upcoming La Homowo festival celebrations. In the lead-up to the event, the assembly conducted extensive public education campaigns through Latenu Radio FM, Obonu FM, and street announcements to encourage citizen involvement. Despite these efforts, the MCE expressed disappointment at the low turnout of residents.

The clean-up activities included desilting choked drains, flushing them, and removing unauthorized structures from pavements and drainage areas. While residents of the municipality appreciated the assembly’s efforts, they also called for stricter enforcement of sanitation by-laws. They suggested that funds allocated to such exercises could be better utilized for other important community projects if measures were implemented to prevent refuse dumping in drains and unauthorized areas.

The La Dade-Kotopon Municipal Assembly remains committed to improving sanitation and encourages continued community involvement to maintain a cleaner and healthier environment.

LaDMA Certifies 6000 Out of 7456 Food Handlers Screened

6000 food handlers in the La Dade Kotopon Municipal Assembly (LaDMA) underwent mandatory medical health screening in 2023 to ensure safe and hygienic food for public consumption.

Out Of the number, 4000 were females while 2000 were males all from the hospitality industries, restaurants, drinking and chop bars. The data contained in the 2023 Annual Report of the Environmental Health Department revealed that 3500 females and 1500 males out of the total number screened were found fit and issued suitability health and safety certificates.

 

Speaking to the report, the Environmental Health officer, Evans said out of the number screened 4800 were new applicants while 1200 were renewals adding that the screenings included education sessions on proper hygiene practices, nutrition, and general health awareness and were designed to cover a range of health parameters, including communicable diseases, hygiene-related illnesses, and overall physical fitness among others.

 

He explained that the screening exercise was carried out to among other things maintain high standards in the food industry, and enhance public confidence by reducing potential health risks associated with food consumption.

 

 “By proactively addressing health concerns among food vendors, LaDMA aims to mitigate the risk of foodborne illnesses and other health-related issues that could arise from the consumption of contaminated food… The Assembly acknowledges that the informal sector constitutes 80 per cent of the workforce, hence the mass screening exercises to promote the local food industry and assure consumers of high safety standards.

 

He disclosed that out of the total number screened 272 vendors were found to have health concerns and provided with guidance and referrals to appropriate healthcare facilities for further evaluation and treatment.

 

He encouraged all persons associated with the preparation, transportation, and sale of food restaurants, cafes, catering companies chop bars to the general public to undergo regular health check-ups and participate in health screening exercises by the Assembly to ensure safe food.

 

“As we continue to priorities public health and safety, the Assembly remains committed to proactive measures that contribute to the overall well-being of residents, adding that the Assembly’s responsibility to safeguard the health of the general public by ensuring that all food handlers undergo screenings and training, we are taking a proactive step towards preventing foodborne diseases and maintaining La’s reputation as a vibrant culinary destination,” she said.MA

LADMA RECORDS 8,960 New Births And 5464 Deaths

8,960 new births and 5464 deaths were registered in the La Dade Kotopon Assembly (LADMA) during the year 2023.

 Out of 8960 new-borns registered, 4541 were males whilst 4419 were females.  

According to the data, 2207, 2016, 2112 and 2625 children under one (1) year were registered during the first, second, third and fourth quarters respectively. 

The Head of Birth and Death registry at LaDMA, Mrs Sheila Naa Addo who disclosed this on Friday 19 JULY said the number registered had exceeded the expected target of 4181 births and 935 deaths

She added this was achieved through the constant visits by officers of Births and Deaths Registry to the hospitals, clinics, maternity homes, delivery and weighing centers across the eight registries within the Municipality.

She emphasized the importance of the data for urban planning, healthcare provision, and educational resource allocation.

She said the data highlighted the demographic trends and population growth within the metropolis and encouraged residents to register births and the deaths of their relatives promptly.  

She commended the Births and Deaths Registry of the LaDMA for the sensitization campaigns and mass birth registration exercise they conducted last year to register all, especially children below one year in the city attributing it to the increase in the number of registrations. 

The Births and Deaths Registry exists following the Births and Deaths Act, 2020 (Act 1027), which mandates the registration and certification of births, deaths, and foetal deaths in the country for national development and related issues.

NATIONAL SANITATION DAY MARKED IN LA MUNICIPALITY

The La Dade-Kotopon Municipal Assembly (Ladma) on Saturday December 3, 2022 marked the national sanitation day across the ten electoral areas. The assembly over the years has been undertaking the exercise to improve sanitation issues in the municipality.

The assembly members, staff, and community members took part in the exercise. The MCE for LaDMA, Mr Solomon Kotey Nikoi said the monthly sanitation day has come to stay and it is important that members of the municipality keep their environment clean to avoid communicable diseases. He asked the citizenry to value their lives by ensuring that their surroundings are clean.The MCE mentioned that the sanitation officers would arrest and prosecute offenders of the sanitation byelaws.

LaDMA CLEANS THE MUNICIPALITY FOR HOMOWO FESTIVAL CELEBRATION

The La Dade-Kotopon Municipal Assembly (LaDMA) as part of their responsibilities to ensure a clean municipality has organised a massive clean-up exercise at two electoral areas of Abese/ Abafum/Kowe and Lakpaana on Saturday September 17, 2022.

According to the municipal environmental health director, Mr Patrick W.Tsigbey the clean-up exercise was to ensure that areas chosen are kept clean for the celebration of the La Homowo festival. He mentioned that before the exercise, the assembly embarked on public education using a combination of Latenu Radio FM, Obonu FM and street announcement to ensure that the citizenry take part in the clean-up.

Members in the municipality thanked assembly for the exercise and said that its time the assembly applies the sanitation by-laws to arrest those who deliberately or out of ignorance dump refuse into drains and unauthorized areas in the municipality looking at the money involved during such exercise. They said these moneys could be used for other important projects in the area.

 Chocked drains were desilted and unauthorised structures were removed from the pavement and the drains.

GREATER ACCRA REGIONAL MINISTER URGED MMDAs TO ENFORCE OPERATION CLEAN YOUR FRONTAGE.

The Greater Accra Regional Minister Mr Henry Quartey has directed the MMDAs in the region to enforce the operation clean your frontage, as a result the La Dade-Kotopon Municipal Assembly (LaDMA ) on Thursday August 25, 2022 embarked on the enforcement of the exercise across the ten electoral areas of the municipality.

According to Mr Patrick W. Tsigbey the environmental health director, the exercise was to have a clean and healthy environment to enhance the image of the municipality. He said the municipality is one of the key MMDAs in the region, which holds a lot of industries, hotels, embassies, the Kotoka International airport, and other high institutions. He said, every clean city worldwide attracts investors and for that matter, the management of the assembly find it fit to keep the area clean.

Activities for the exercise included sweeping of public places, removal of waste from the gutters, weeding of open spaces, educating the public on the byelaws.

ladma partners with GAYO

La Dade-Kotopon Municipal Assembly (LaDMA) has partnered with the Ghana Youth Advocacy Organization (GAYO), an NGO dedicated to improving sanitation in various communities. The partnership aims to improve the sanitation situation in the municipality by promoting good waste management practices and creating awareness about the importance of proper sanitation.

According to Hon. Solomon Nikoi, the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) of LaDMA, the partnership is part of the assembly’s efforts to ensure that the municipality is clean and healthy for all residents. He further noted that the assembly is committed to working with relevant stakeholders to achieve its sanitation goals.

The partnership with GAYO will involve joint efforts to create awareness about proper waste management practices, including the separation of waste at the source, composting, and recycling. Additionally, GAYO will support LaDMA in its efforts to enforce sanitation regulations, especially regarding the disposal of waste in unauthorized areas.

The partnership with GAYO is just one of the many initiatives that LaDMA has undertaken to improve sanitation in the municipality. The assembly has also intensified its efforts to provide waste collection services and enforce sanitation regulations, including the prosecution of individuals who violate the rules.

The partnership with GAYO is expected to go a long way in improving the sanitation situation in LaDMA. With the support of GAYO and other stakeholders, the assembly is optimistic that it can achieve its goal of making the municipality one of the cleanest and healthiest in the country.

LaDMA PLANT TREES TO GREEN THE MUNICIPALITY

The La Dade-Kotopon Municipal Assembly on Friday June 10, 2022 plated 15,000 seedlings across the municipality as part of the activities to mark the Green Ghana Day.

The Municipal Chief Executive for La Dade-Kotopon Municipal Assembly Rev. Solomon Kotey Nikoi planted the first sprout at Tenasi Junior High School at Ako Adjei followed by the Coordinating Director Mr Daniel Nkrumah and the Municipal Education Director Ms Habiba Kotomah, Mrs Emelia Monney the Director for Agric and the Assembly Members.

Speaking to the media Rev. Solomon Kotey Nikoi called on all stakeholders to actively participate in the exercise and fully take responsibility of the seedlings planted. He said the future of La and that of Ghana would depend on how well the citizenry will protect the seedlings.

On the part of the director for Agric, she said her outfit in collaboration with the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) and other relevant department and units under the assembly are to persistently monitor the development of the seedlings and offer any technical support to any member in the community to enable the trees to mature well.

She mentioned that prior to the exercise the assembly had embarked on an awareness creation to prepare residents on the exercise and how to monitor and upkeep for the seedlings.

Mrs Kotomah assured her outfit support towards the exercise by ensuring that each school plants trees in and around their schools. She pointed out that, the trees planting which have come to stay would help address environmental issues in the country.

PRCC FIELD TRIP UNCOVERS COMMUNITY CONCERNS IN BOUGAINVILLEA STRETCH, TSE ADDO, AND AGYEMANG-LA

The Public Relations and Complaints Committee has been hard at work in addressing concerns raised by residents of Agyemang and Madam Linda Stepper. The committee, together with some technocrats, embarked on a trip to the locations to assess the situation and make recommendations.

During the visit to Madam Linda Stepper’s residence, it was discovered that her neighbor had wrongfully joined a wall to hers, blocking a drain and causing flooding in her house. At Hyde Out Pub, the team found that the noise levels from the operations of the pub were causing a nuisance in the neighborhood. Smoke from shisha and cigarettes made it difficult for residents to breathe clean air, while pieces of cigarette were left on the ground and children in the area picked them up to emulate the smoking habit.

The pub owner also constructed a minor drain, which was stagnant and bred mosquitoes. In addition, customers indiscriminately parked on the street of the neighborhood. The team observed that a portion of the pub was constructed on a minor drain, which extended to the walkway of the owner’s neighbors, and that portion was uncovered and stagnant.

The trip to the two locations was successful, and the Committee has scheduled another field trip to assess the neighbor’s wall joining Madam Linda Stepper’s. Mr. Evans Todzro, an Environmental Health Department Officer, has been tasked to conduct a thorough investigation on the activities of the Hyde Out Pub and submit a report to the Committee.

The Public Relations and Complaints Committee is committed to addressing the concerns of residents in the municipality and ensuring that their complaints are heard and acted upon. It is important to note that participation from the public is crucial in ensuring that issues are identified and resolved in a timely manner.

ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH AND SANITATION OFFICERS RECEIVED CAPACITY BUILDING IN THEIR CORE MANDATES

The La Dade-Kotopon Municipal Assembly, LaDMA organised two days training programme for the environmental health and sanitation officers operating in the municipality to improve on the state of environmental health and sanitation issues militating against the municipality. The training held at the Municipal Assembly Conference room on Tuesday March 29, 2022 and ended on Wednesday March 30, 2022.

Addressing the participants, Mr Daniel Nkrumah (Coordinating director of LaDMA) said the EHOs, and EHAs owned the responsibilities to ensure that the municipality is clean. He said the training was to sharpen the skills of participants in delivery of their routine tasks, by enforcing environmental standards and regulations in the municipality.

 Engineer Lukman Yahya Salifu, Mr Maxwell Opoku Agyeman, Esq, and Engineer Evans Darko Mensah from Messrs WasteCare Associates, an environmental sanitation consultancy firm, facilitated the training.

The training was to equip the participants with the skills of principles of basic law and procedure for prosecuting environmental health and sanitation offences, monitoring and evaluation techniques and report writing. Engineer Lukman Yahya Salifu schooled the participants on report writing on environmental health and sanitation services.  Mr Maxwell Agyeman took the participants through Basic training in environmental health and sanitation prosecution whiles Engineer Evans Darko Mensah took the participants through environmental monitoring and evaluation (M&E) for EHOs and EHAs 

Participants were drawn from EHOs/ EHAs made up of fifteen females and ten males. Participants expressed their appreciation to the directorates, for organising the training.