Toward advancing environmental health and sanitation in Ghana, Municipal and District Environmental Health Officers (MDEHOs) met with Zoomlion Ghana Limited in a strategic partnership meeting on Wednesday, 11th June, 2025. Held at the Ahafo Regional Coordinating Council (ARCC), the meeting aimed at reinforcing collaboration and aligning efforts to deliver cleaner, healthier communities.
In his opening remarks, Mr. Sampson Amoako Kwarteng, Chief Director of the ARCC, expressed profound gratitude to Zoomlion Ghana Limited for their support in facilitating the meeting. He lauded Zoomlion as a critical partner in Ghana’s sanitation sector and praised their consistent support for key initiatives. Mr. Amoako Kwarteng emphasized that such collaborations are essential to making tangible progress, particularly at the district and community levels.
He acknowledged the persistent challenges facing sanitation delivery, including limited logistics, irregular waste collection and inadequate public education. However, he remained optimistic, noting that with co-ordinated effort, strategic investment and committed leadership, these obstacles can be overcome.
Mr. Edwin Nti, Regional Environmental Health Officer, briefed participants on the purpose of the meeting, a follow-up to prior resolutions with the Executive Chairman and leadership of Zoomlion.
He outlined four key objectives:
1. Strengthen stakeholder collaboration,
2. Institutionalize quarterly performance reviews,
3. Conduct joint monitoring and needs assessments, and
4. Review and align the operational guide for sanitation delivery.
Mr. Nti explained that the meeting sought to enhance local-level sanitation management, align operations and contribute to national development goals, particularly, Sustainable Development Goal 6 which seeks to champion “Clean Water and Sanitation”. He called for open, inclusive dialogue, expecting the meeting to yield actionable recommendations and improved sanitation outcomes.
Representing the Ghana Environmental Health Officers Association (GEHOA), and Dean of Regional Environmental Officers, Mr. William Freeman Goku delivered a compelling message on the Association’s commitment to driving improvements through strategic partnerships.
Mr. Goku highlighted the growing burden on sanitation systems due to rapid urbanization, changing waste dynamics, and rising public expectations. He called for stronger coordination and transparent collaboration between public institutions and private actors like Zoomlion to meet these demands.
He outlined GEHOA’s transformative vision for Ghana’s sanitation sector, built on three pillars:
• Decentralization: Empowering communities as active partners in hygiene and disease prevention.
• Digitization: Leveraging data and performance-based frameworks for
smarter, accountable contract management.
• Professionalization: Ensuring that every MMDA has a well-equipped
Environmental Health Department working closely with reliable service
providers.
Mr. Goku also emphasized GEHOA’s advocacy at the national level — including engagements with Parliament and the Ministry of Sanitation — to shape policies and amplify the private sector’s role in sanitation delivery.Mr. Goku presented the newly developed Operational Framework and Guidelines for Sustainable Environmental Sanitation Services, aimed at improving service delivery and environmental health outcomes. Key objectives of the
framework include:
• Needs-based planning and contract management,
• Clear institutional roles and responsibilities,
• Enhanced logistics coordination and responsiveness,
• Robust monitoring and evaluation mechanisms,
• Strengthened MMDA capacity for contract assessment and enforcement.
He also addressed the vital role of waste infrastructure, calling for comprehensive needs assessments to guide the deployment of waste containers and trucks. On waste management, Mr. Goku stressed the importance of environmentally sound practices, waste minimization, and promoting recycling initiatives.
On the topic of sanitary law enforcement, Mr. Goku noted that the process is not just about punishment but about safeguarding the health and well-being of citizens. He called for clear guidelines to support local authorities in enforcing sanitation laws effectively, with the collaboration of communities. Mr. Goku reaffirmed GEHOA’s unwavering commitment to working hand-in-hand with Zoomlion Ghana Limited and other key stakeholders to drive sustainable progress in Ghana’s sanitation landscape.
The meeting featured engaging group presentations and discussions on the operational framework, culminating in actionable strategies for improving sanitation delivery.
Participants included representatives from:
• Ahafo Regional Co-ordinating Council
• Ghana Environmental Health Officers Association (GEHOA)
• Regional, Municipal, and District Environmental Health Officers
• Zoomlion Ghana Limited
• Integrated Recycling and Compost Plant (IRECOP)
Together, they renewed their collective commitment to a cleaner, healthier Ghana through collaboration, innovation and shared responsibility.
