Directive issued during visit to Nzema East
The Western Regional Minister, Joseph Nelson, has directed all municipal and district chief executives in Ghana’s Western Region to strictly enforce sanitation bylaws, following concerns linked to cholera-related deaths reported in 2024.
The instruction was delivered during a working visit to the Nzema East Municipality, where the minister addressed local officials on the need for tougher implementation of existing rules on sanitation and public health.
Warning against lapses in enforcement
According to the minister, the regional administration will not accept weak enforcement that could create conditions for another cholera outbreak. He told local government leaders that compliance with sanitation regulations must be treated as a priority across all assemblies in the region.
He underscored that bylaws are in place to protect communities and that consistent application is necessary to prevent avoidable public health risks.
Focus on municipal and district responsibility
The directive places responsibility on municipal and district leadership to take practical steps to ensure that sanitation standards are upheld. The minister’s message was aimed at ensuring that local administrations do not delay action where enforcement is required.
While the minister did not announce new regulations, he emphasised rigorous implementation of the sanitation rules already available to assemblies, indicating that the region expects measurable improvements in compliance.
Cholera risk highlighted by recent history
The minister referenced the 2024 cholera situation as a reminder of the consequences of poor sanitation and weak adherence to public health requirements. Cholera is commonly associated with contaminated water and inadequate sanitation, and outbreaks can spread quickly if preventive measures are not maintained.
Officials were urged to treat enforcement as a continuous obligation, rather than a short-term response after public health incidents.
Regional stance on accountability
During the Nzema East visit, the minister said the regional administration intends to maintain a firm position on sanitation enforcement. The statement was presented as a warning to municipal and district leaders against inaction that could undermine public health efforts.
The directive is expected to guide sanitation-related actions by assemblies across the Western Region as they work to reduce risks linked to poor waste management and unsafe environmental conditions.