Techiman: Over 6,000 cases of typhoid are recorded annually in the Bono East Region, according to Mr. Gyan Lamptey, the Bono East Regional Environmental Health Officer. He attributed the high number of cases partly to the prevalence of open defecation in the region. Mr. Lamptey expressed disappointment that open defecation persists despite ongoing public sensitization efforts regarding the health hazards associated with this practice.

According to Ghana News Agency, Mr. Lamptey delivered this message during the Maiden Medium Term Development Planning meeting of the Bono East Regional Coordinating Council held in Techiman. He highlighted the need for Municipal and District Assemblies to enact and enforce sanitation by-laws to enhance sanitation and waste management across the region.

Mr. Lamptey also emphasized the importance of personal hygiene, advising the public to wash their hands with soap after using the toilet. He urged a shift in public attitudes towards waste disposal to tackle the issue effectively.

Earlier in the meeting, Mr. Francis Owusu Antwi, the Bono East Regional Minister, appointed a 23-member council tasked with overseeing the region's development. The council, consisting of representatives from Municipal and District Assemblies and other key stakeholders, is responsible for monitoring and supervising the implementation of development projects to ensure quality and effectiveness.