Environmental sanitation practices in Sankor and Kwendurum in the Effutu Municipality

Abstract

The study explored the environmental sanitation practices in Kwendurum and Sankor in the Effutu municipality. In achieving the purpose of the study, the case study design was employed. Purposive and convenient sampling were used to select a sample of 15 respondents which included 3 officials and 12 residents of the studied communities. Data was gathered through the use of interviews and focused group discussion and was analysed according to themes. The findings of the study revealed that residents of Kwendurum and Sankor use the seashore as waste dumping site as well as place of convenience instead of using toilet facilities. The study also revealed that negative attitudes of the people, financial difficulties, proximity to the beach, inadequate dustbins, inadequate toilets facilities, inadequate resources, poor road and lack of education were the factors that accounted for the environmental sanitation practices of residents in Kwendurum and Sankor. Additionally, the study revealed that, the environmental sanitation practices of Sankor and Kwendurum had negative effect on them including environmental, social and economic effects. Furthermore, the findings of the study uncovered measures such as provision of sanitary facilities, regular organisation of communal labour, change of attitude, provision of resources, assistance from stakeholders and the government, focusing on preventive measures than curative measures, enforcement of coastal laws, education, construction of dock at the seashore as well as good roads to enhance good sanitation practices in the two aforementioned coastal communities. The study also recommended that, Effutu Municipal Assembly as well as other local stakeholders such as chiefs and opinion leaders should intensify their effort to address the problem of poor environmental sanitation practices in Sankor and Kwendurum communities by providing toilet facilities, organising education campaign programmes to strengthen good sanitation practices as well as enforcing coastal sanitation laws to prevent residents from putting up negative attitude towards their environment.