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Mohamed Adjei Sowah  — Metropolitan Chief Executive of Accra
Mohamed Adjei Sowah — Metropolitan Chief Executive of Accra

We’ve eliminated pan latrines — AMA

The Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) says it has finally been able to phase out the pan latrine system, after challenging times in implementing a Supreme Court ruling that outlawed the practice where the services of some Ghanaians referred to as “latrine boys” were engaged to carry human excreta.

In February 2008, a private legal practitioner, Nana Adjei Ampofo, who sued in his capacity as a Ghanaian citizen, secured a landmark ruling from the Supreme Court that gave the AMA three months to come out with a comprehensive plan to guide the assembly in phasing out the pan latrine system.

However, the AMA had a hectic time implementing a two-year plan to eliminate the practice.

But, speaking to the Daily Graphic in Accra yesterday, the Metropolitan Environmental Health Officer, Mr Victor Acquaye, said the situation had been brought under control in spite of the hiccups.

That notwithstanding, he said, the assembly was very vigilant and would bring persons who contravened the law to book.

Landmark ruling

Nana Ampofo, an ex-Omanhene of the Goaso Traditional Area in the Brong Ahafo Region, in his writ, sought a declaration from the Apex Court that the practice whereby the AMA engaged the services of some people in the Ghanaian society to carry faecal matter in pans on their heads was an affront to their dignity.

Challenging the assembly’s constitutional right to engage the services of people to carry human excreta, the lawyer prayed the court to direct the AMA to abolish it as it was cruel, inhuman, a health hazard and degrading to the carriers as humans.

Quoting Article 15 of the 1992 Constitution, which states among others that, "The dignity of all persons shall be inviolable, and that no person shall, whether or not he is arrested restricted or detained, be subjected to torture or other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatments or punishment," Nana Ampofo said once the Constitution was breached by the AMA, he, as a citizen, was clothed with the law to bring the action against the assembly.

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The five-member panel of the Supreme Court, presided over by Ms Justice Sophia Akuffo, now the Chief Justice, in its ruling, ordered the AMA to ensure that the implementation plan for the eradication of the pan latrine system, was followed to the letter.            

Other Justices who sat on the matter were  Mr Justice Steve Brobbey, Mr Justice Richard Twum Aninakwa, Mrs Sophia Adinyira and Mr Justice Samuel Kwadwo Asiamah.

Following the Supreme Court ruling, in May 2008, the AMA gave landlords in the metropolis two years to convert their pan latrines into water closets or KVIPs or face prosecution.

However, media reports indicated the practice continued on the blind side of the assembly.

Monitoring

However, Mr Acquaye disclosed in the interview that for about a year now, the assembly’s monitoring had not established the use of pan latrines in homes.

He said the assembly made sure education went deep down to the communities.

Nonetheless, Mr Acquaye indicated that his outfit would not rest but would continue to monitor the situation to ensure that the right thing was always done.

Nana Ampofo happy

When contacted, Nana Ampofo said as far as he knew, the AMA had been able to bring the situation under control.

He described the development as refreshing and asked the assembly not to return to the bad days.

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