He said when a community is declared ODF, it stands a better chance and opportunity of attracting development to its health, education and agricultural sectors.

Mr Banye said this when he addressed traditional leaders and members of the Nandom District Intersectorial Coordinating Committee.

He said it is quite embarrassing to see people defecating openly and praised Nandom for being a shining example with regards to issues concerning Open Defecation in the Northern, Upper West and Upper East regions. 

Nandom District was ranked 7th in the 2017 Ghana League Table. This according to Mr Banye the attainment of 91 per cent ODF by the District, contributed immensely to the impressive performance on the Ghana League Table.

Nandom has in the last two years been consistent with its performance on ODF, and has currently moved upwards from 91 per cent to 96 per cent.

Mr Banye said 84 out of 88 communities in the District have so far attained ODF and commended the district assembly, particularly the District Chief Executive, traditional leaders and assembly members and other stakeholders for their contribution and support.

On his part, the District Chief Executive for Nandom, Mr Thaddeus Arkum Aasoglengang, expressed gratitude to SNV for their technical and financial support to the project.

He said SNV has been the cornerstone of the success stories from Nandom.

Mr Aasoglenang said behavioral change is a very difficult phenomenon to achieve, adding even though the project ended in September 2018, SNV took an administrative decision to ensure that Nandom attains 100 per cent ODF.

He said byelaws will be enacted to ensure that people do not slip into defecating openly again.

Naa Domepeeh Gyere III, a member of the Nandom Traditional Council Ko Naa, said the gains made by Nandom in the area of Open Defecation Free must maintained and guarded.

He said the traditional council has on their part, served letters to all traditional leaders, area heads and religious leaders to engage with their people and sensitize them to change their attitudes towards the environment.  

Mr Jerry Sabogu, the Nandom District Environmental Health Officer, called for a continuous training of natural leaders in the communities.

“This will help in the continuous and regular monitoring of communities”.