The Western Regional Minister, Joseph Nelson, has directed all Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) and Coordinating Directors to strictly enforce sanitation bylaws across the region.
The directive follows the 2024 cholera outbreak, which claimed 16 lives and affected more than 1,700 people in the Western Region.
Mr Nelson gave the directive during a working visit to the Nzema East Municipality, where he stressed the need for vigilance to prevent another outbreak.
“I do not want to hear anything about another cholera outbreak. When we have such situations, we will have to sit down and talk because it will be as if we did not know,” he stated.
The Minister emphasized that strict adherence to sanitation practices remained critical to protecting public health and ensuring a clean environment.
He also raised concerns about the siting of unauthorized structures, citing a case where wetlands were being filled for construction.
“We need to ensure that structures are sited in the right place,” he said, questioning whether the assembly was aware of such developments and taking the necessary action.
Meanwhile, the Nzema East Municipal Chief Executive, Herbert Kua Dickson, said the assembly faced challenges affecting effective service delivery, including a shortage of office space and limited resources.
He explained that some departments were operating in congested and inadequate facilities, which was negatively impacting productivity and staff morale.
“These constraints collectively affect staff morale, slow down administrative processes, and limit the assembly’s ability to deliver timely and quality service to the public,” Mr Dickson noted.
The Minister’s directive forms part of efforts to strengthen sanitation enforcement and improve public health in the Western Region.
