The Chief of Pelungu in the Nabdam district of the Upper East Region, Naab Sierig Soore Sobil IV has for 2 years now, continued to pursue his goal of ending open defecation in his area.
The chief is doing this, using funds generated from the community’s Annual ‘Yagle Kuure’ Festival to construct a 20-seater public toilet facility for the Pelungu market.
At this year’s celebration, Naab Sierig said the decision to start the construction of the toilet facility was based on the absence of such a facility in the market for traders.
“When I became chief of this community, the sanitation situation here at Pelungu became a source of worry for me. I realized that poor sanitation especially in our market, did not present a good image of our community to strangers. Also, our women were exposed anytime they needed to attend to nature’s call while they were doing their business activities in our market.
Therefore, together with my elders, we agreed it will be prudent to mobilize our own resources through the festival, to begin constructing a toilet facility. And this was what we did with the first Annual ‘Yagle Kuure’ Festival.”
The self-help initiative started during the first edition of the festival in 2018.
Two years down the line, the construction of the 20-seater public toilet facility has begun from scratch and is now at an appreciable level.
Addressing a gathering of chiefs and people during the 3rd edition of the Annual ‘Yagle Kuure’ Festival on 29th December 2019 under the theme; “Ending open defecation, protecting our dignity and ensuring a healthier life”, the Pelungu chief said the community’s goal of having the toilet completed will never be abandoned for a new goal, unless the project is completed and put into use.
Naab Sierig who has also instituted a monthly clean-up exercise in the area geared towards improving the sanitation situation in the community, has therefore called for a concerted effort to putting up the facility.
“We are hoping that after today, we shall be able to finally complete this project and commission it either before or during our next ‘Yagle Kuure’ festival in the year 2021”, he appealed.
The Annual ‘Yagle Kuure’ Festival was initiated in the year, 2018; about two years after Naab Sierig was enskinned as chief of Pelungu.
‘Yagle Kuure’ is a festival celebrated to mark the end of the farming season and to give thanks to God for a good harvest. The annual festival is celebrated every year to foster unity, celebrate culture and more importantly, for the people of Pelungu to discuss how they can develop the community together.
The chief used the occasion to acknowledged Paul Wooma, the Upper East Regional Manager for the Ghana Red Society and a native of Nabdam, for his efforts at ending open defecation in Pelungu.
“Mr. Paul Wooma through his organization’s COVID-19 facility, drilled a borehole which will be mechanized, to support not only our agenda of ending open defection but also to provide water for the people in this part of Pelungu. For this reason, I want to on behalf of my elders and the people of Pelungu, say a very big thank you to Mr. Paul Wooma and the Ghana Red Cross Society, for this kind gesture. We shall never forget your contribution and impact on the lives of the people of Pelungu.”
Among dignitaries who graced the occasion include the Member of Parliament for Nabdam, Dr. Mark Kurt Nawaane. Dr. Nawaane who pledged his support for the completion of the 20-seater toilet facility, admonished other benevolent persons and organizations to support the idea of Naab Sierig Soore Sobil IV.
Source: A1Radioonline.com|Joshua Asaah|101.1Mhz
