By Alex Ababio
The Damak Sanitation Health Watch-Ghana held its second annual Sanitation Excellence Awardsin Kumasi, with a passionate call from the organization’s Director, Daniel Mbabugri Akgri, for the government to adopt innovative strategies to address Ghana’s sanitation and hygiene challenges effectively.
“Sanitation in this country has not seen significant improvement, despite various efforts by the government and other organizations. This reality tells us that we need to rethink our approaches if we are to achieve lasting solutions,” Mr. Akgri remarked during his keynote address.
Introducing Innovation in Sanitation Monitoring
The awards event showcased a groundbreaking collaboration between Damak Sanitation Health Watch-Ghana and the Switzerland-based International Direct Project (IDP), which introduced a digital addressing system to assess sanitation performance.
“This new system uses digital address codes to evaluate the contributions and performance of communities and electoral areas,” Mr. Akgri explained. “It’s a transparent, data-driven approach that ensures winners are selected purely on merit and their measurable contributions to environmental cleanliness.”
He added that independent media monitoring was also employed to ensure impartial assessments, keeping local Assembly Members and other stakeholders accountable. “The system is not only user-friendly but also highly accurate, assigning percentage scores from 1-100% for each electoral area,” he said.
Recognizing Contributions to Clean Environments
The 2023 edition of the awards recognized 10 outstanding individuals and organizations, including five Assembly Members, for their efforts in promoting sanitation. This year, the number of awardees increased to 16, reflecting the growing impact of the initiative.
A Global Perspective on Sanitation Challenges
Addressing the audience, Pierre P. Petitjean, Director of the International Direct Project (IDP), emphasized the importance of protecting the environment for future generations.
“Sanitation is fundamental to human life. If we fail to tackle environmental pollution today, the consequences will be dire for our children and their children,” Petitjean warned. “We must all rally behind initiatives like Damak’s to create a sustainable and healthy environment.”
He urged stakeholders, government officials, and the public to join forces with Damak Sanitation Health Watch to ensure a cleaner, safer future for all.
A Growing Movement
The Sanitation Excellence Awards, now in its second year, continues to inspire communities and individuals to prioritize hygiene and environmental health. Through innovative technology and a collaborative spirit, the event sets a benchmark for tackling one of Ghana’s most pressing challenges.