The Chief and Landlords (Tendaabas) of Babile in the Lawra Municipality of the Upper West Region have given the people in the area a four month ultimatum to end open defecation in the area.
A letter issued to the effect ordered house owners to construct household latrines in their homes within the four month period from July to November 2022.
“In this wise, all landlords and landladies are compelled to construct toilet facilities in their houses”, the letter cautioned.
The letter was jointly signed by Naa Saapiur Dakuar III, the Chief of Babile, Mr Biere Mwaadogl and Mr Tuozung Dapila, the Landlords of Babile and Mr Gregory Tengzu, Youth President (Bipola Naa) and copied to the sectional heads and religious institutions in Babile.
It identified with great concern that the ancestral shrines of Babbile (Tengan-Tuure and Duotang) are being desecrated by uncultured behaviours including open defecation, indiscriminate waste disposal, the dumping of sullied materials, such as used condoms at the sacred shrines.
They said any person who would be caught defecating in the open after the November 2022 ultimatum would be fined to pay some animals and a cash amount.
“We are therefore sounding a word of caution to the general public that it is highly prohibited to dump refuse or defecate at the sacred shrines. In fact, it is a first degree felony by the tradition and customs of Babile.
“You would be charged a three-year old ram, six fowls of six months old and a cash amount of Gh¢200.00 if you are caught doing same”, the letter read in some paragraphs.
They said that the move “will not only bring finality to open defecation but will also bring some level of sanity to the community” stressing that culprits will be charged starting November 2022.