Two Landlords fined Ghc220.00 for failure to build toilet facilities

Two Landlords in the Bolgatanga Municipality have been fined an amount of GHC 220.00 each by the Bolgatanga District Magistrate Court for failure to adhere to the orders of the Municipal Environmental Health and Sanitation Unit, to build toilet facilities in their homes. The accused persons, Ayamga Robert and Ayine Abola, were both funded to construct toilet facilities in their various houses, an initiative by the Assembly to reduce the practice of open defecation within the municipality, but failed to do so after taking the money. It is in the light of this that, the Bolgatanga Municipal Environmental Health and Sanitation Unit have obtained a bench warrant from the court to arrest five landlords and arraign them before court. Three others, identified as, Azure James, Ayamba Anaba and Mumuni Asaana, all failed to appear before the court for reasons unknown. Speaking to Radio Ghana, the Bolgatanga Municipal Environmental Health Officer, Mr. Evans Bornaa noted that, a bench warrant have been obtained from the court to re- arrest those three landlords to re-appear before the court for trials schedule for  February, 18, 2013. He explained that, the whole exercise was aimed at minimizing open defecation in the municipality. The move he further noted was to serve as a deterrent to house owners that are reluctant to toilet facilities in their homes. Meanwhile, media reports reveal that the Upper East Region is rated as the region with the highest open defecation practices. Mr. Bornaa expressed worry on the issue, calling on the government, stakeholders and the general public to help in the fight against Open defecation in the municipality and the entire region.

GBC                                                                       END                                                                EMB/IA