Residents of Boatase, a suburb of Elmina in the Komenda-Edina-Eguafo-Abrem (KEEA) Municipality in the Central Region are filled with ecstatic appraisals for Mr. Justice Asmah, CEO of 'Yehowah Adom' Enterprise, popularly known as Ato Kwamena, for his humanitarian effort in securing a conducive environment for his people.

Mr. Asmah's kind gesture, coupled with many others has sparked wide commendations following his deliberate attempt to eradicate open defecation from Elmina-Boatase, which is well known for accommodating fisherfolks involved in Saiko business.

Considering the adverse effect of open defecation on residents of Boatase and the entire Elmina enclave, the philanthropic fisherfolk has seen the need to renovate an over 20-year abandoned government toilet facility constructed by the Fisheries Commission at the area to the tune of over GH¢150,000 to help find a lasting solution to the ailing practice.

The lack of a proper toilet facility over the years has forced residents of Boatase to resort to openly defecating in the Benya Lagoon.

The toilet facility which has now been entrusted to the Municipal Assembly for supervision, witnessed a colorful commissioning which garnered astute personalities like the MP for KEEA, MCE for the Municipality and Officers of the Fisheries Commission.

Mr. Justice Asmah in an engagement with Sompa TV's Eric Annan, upon commissioning of the toilet facility, admonished to have witnessed the unenthusiastic attitude by previous government officials in the Municipality in renovating the facility over the years, with countless unfulfilled promises to refurbish the then dilapidated toilet facility.

To him, the unbearable attitude by these government officials, sparked the dying urge in him to offer the needed help the people of Boatase, where he equally works to feed his family so yearns for.

He added that upon considering the ripple health challenges residents of the location are exposed to through open defecation and also the disturbing condition individuals of the area, particularly the elderly went through just to ease themselves, further provoked his desire to reconstruct the facility to its modernized state, with no sense of accountability nor refund by government.

Hon. Samuel Atta-Mills, MP for KEEA in his address to the media, commended Justice Asmah for his singular act of selflessness, as he expressed the desire to have more of such benevolent individuals in the municipality to aid scale up development in the constituency.

The Municipal Chief Executive of KEEA, Hon. Ismail Saeed Zagoon in addition, relayed the Municipal Assembly's unflinching support to Mr. Asmah to motivate him carry on with such philanthropic works to other areas in need of such kind gesture to put a halt to open defecation within the municipality.

He again assured to see to it that the culture of maintenance is highly adhered on the facility to have it last longer than it should, and also dished out to recalcitrant individuals who despite acquiring such toilet facility, will still opt to openly defecate in the vicinity to be on guard for the Assembly's stringent punishment for them.

Some traders and residents of the area on the other hand, extended appreciation to Ato Kwamena, as they call him, highlighting their encountered ordeal previously faced in easing themselves prior to the facility's renovation and the kind of relief the facility now sort to offer them.

Research has it that a little over 19% of households in the Central Region have access to places of convenience, with various initiatives underway to address the issue, including behavioral change, communication, law enforcement, and engineering solutions.

Sompaonline.com//Eric Annan