Addressing Poor Sanitation in the La Community of the La Dade-Kotopon Municipality through Communication

Abstract

This study focuses essentially on investigating the extent of institutional cooperation among Zoomlion (waste management agency), the local government and other relevant stakeholders in addressing the sanitation crisis in the La community of LaDMA in Accra Ghana through the use of communication. The study employs the mixed-method research. Secondary data is obtained from journal articles, academic books and newspapers whiles primary data was collected through questionnaires and unstructured interviews. Major findings from the study reveal that Zoomlion cooperates with the LaDMA and other relevant stakeholders in the La community in utilising communication tools such as social media, television, radio, Zoomlion vans with sirens as strategic methods in addressing the sanitation crisis in the area. These strategies have greatly improved on the waste management situation in the La community as they result in increase in awareness creation, lobbying for effective policies and legislation against poor sanitation conditions, as well as, assisting in capacity building for addressing sanitation crisis in the area. However, there are a number of challenges which confront the various institutions and stakeholders in cooperation to address the sanitation challenges in the La community of LaDMA. These include, financial constraints, expertise personnel constraints, negative sanitation practices and behaviour, among others. The study therefore concludes that Zoomlion as a private waste management agency plays a significant role in cooperation with the Government (precisely LaDMA) and other relevant stakeholders in addressing the dire sanitation crisis in the La community through the use of effective communication tools and strategies. It is therefore recommended that LaDMA should continue to collaborate and cooperate effectively with Zoomlion and all major stakeholders in the La community, to be able to effectively tackle or totally eradicate filth from Ghana, with much emphasis on the La community of LaDMA