{
  "id": 14870496,
  "title": "Go back to the hand washing days – Ghanaians told",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/16/go-back-to-the-hand-washing-days-ghanaians-told",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-16T04:37:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "MyJoyOnline Ghana",
    "slug": "myjoyonline-ghana",
    "url": "https://www.myjoyonline.com/go-back-to-the-hand-washing-days-ghanaians-told/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Deputy Minister Dr Rita Naa Odoley Sowah urged Ghanaians to embrace hand washing as a preventive measure against diseases following the COVID-19 pandemic. She emphasized the importance of hand washing with soap in public washrooms, schools, marketplaces, health centers, and religious bodies. Dr Sowah called for these facilities to be made a visible, funded, and monitored part of development plans by Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies. She stressed the need for environmental health teams to strengthen monitoring and follow-up. The Deputy Minister, who is also an MP for La Dadekotokpon, suggested that districts identify priority locations, assign responsibility for water and soap supply, allocate funds for upkeep, and track the functionality of these facilities. Assemblies should regularly inspect various public spaces to ensure handwashing facilities are functioning properly. Traditional leaders were encouraged to make hand washing and cleanliness regular topics at festivals and public engagements. Dr Frank Lule, representing WHO, praised the Ministry's efforts in advancing water, sanitation, and hygiene as crucial pillars of public health and sustainable development. Mr Ibrahim Musah of Water-Aid urged everyone to support the government in promoting hand washing for universal hygiene. World Vision's Mr Atta Arhin emphasized the importance of using soap under running water for the most effective hand washing. The event was attended by representatives from various organizations including UNICEF, WHO, the World Bank, World Vision Ghana, WaterAid Ghana, the Ghana Health Service, Ghana Education Service, and the Coalition of NGOs in Water and Sanitation.",
  "summary": "Dr Rita Naa Odoley Sowah, the Deputy Minister for Local Government Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, has called on Ghanaians to go back to the hand washing days after the COVID-19 pandemic, to help avoid preventable diseases.",
  "key_points": [
    "Deputy Minister Dr Sowah urges Ghanaians to wash hands with soap in public spaces.",
    "Hand washing facilities to be funded, monitored, and integrated into development plans.",
    "Traditional leaders encouraged to promote hand washing at festivals and public events."
  ],
  "editors_take": "Integrating hand washing infrastructure into local development plans shifts public health responsibility toward municipal assemblies and traditional leaders to ensure long-term hygiene standards across communal spaces.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}