The Tamale Metropolitan Assembly (TaMA) has begun the implementation of iCesspool Fecal Sludge and Bulk Water Supply Monitoring System with a mobile application that will increase household access to safe bulk water supply and pit emptying services within the Tamale Metropolis.
The system is designed to provide solutions to decades-long of household Water and Sanitation challenges in Tamale, which include difficult access to pit Emptying Services, Unregulated disposal of Fecal Sludge, unguided service charges for pit emptying services, and unsafe supply of bulk water (Tanker) to homes.
Speaking at the launch of the system (iCesspool Mobile App) in Tamale, the Metropolitan Chief Executive of the Tamale Metropolitan Assembly Mr Sule Salifu said the rollout of this digital system was well thought through after a series of engagements for the extension of iCesspool Services to Tamale.
“Under this collaboration, the assembly offers a unified solution to these challenges by Linking households to receive safe pit emptying and bulk water supply services within the Tamale Metropolis in the comfort of their homes whiles also exposing our dear Service Providers (Operators) to citywide customers through a Mobile Application,” he said.
Mr Salifu said the digital platform will enable the assembly to be able to track sanitation services rendered to the public and operator routes within the city to ensure conformity to the assembly by-laws and eliminate the incidence of citywide indiscriminate dumping of Fecal Sludge.
“The Assembly has a monitoring dashboard hosted at the Waste Management Department which houses a database of all pit emptying trucks and water supply operators registered for service and we entreat the good people of Tamale to utilize service by downloading the iCesspool-Tamale App on Play Store and channel all service needed; Nonsmart phone (Yam Phone) users are not left out. Just call the Metro hotline at 050-1330-430. Only your Digital Address will be required to get Service delivered to your location at a fair and affordable cost,” the Mayor said.
The Tamale Mayor however urged the residents, landlords, companies, and other institutions within the metropolis to engage the services of only authorized agents of the assembly to carry out waste management services by the Tamale Metropolitan Assembly Bye-laws.
He thanked the Catholic Relief Services (CRS), UNICEF, and International Water Management Institute (IWMI) for providing the technical and financial support in making this dream of transforming Tamale into the first Sanitation Smart City in Africa a reality.
Mr Salifu also called for a collective effort for a clean, safe, and healthy environment for all.
The Founder of iCesspool Ing. Dominic Aboagye said the objective of this digital platform is to help eliminate incidences of dumping wastewater in unapproved locations within the city and as well as check the supply of non-potable water to homes as if potable.
He said it will also promote occupational health and safety in emptying and water supply operations.
Ing. Aboagye said the online system is estimated to rake in over GHS 150,000.00 annually to the Tamale Metropolitan Assembly to support sanitation and water management activities.
“I’m happy to inform you that after these deliberations, the operators have agreed to relinquish 10 per cent of each service charge to the assembly to support environmental sanitation activities as well as the maintenance of the system,” he said.
Ing. Aboagye urged the staff of the assembly and the environmental health officers to ensure rigorous public engagement to promote this innovation.
The Director of Waste Management at the Tamale Metropolitan Assembly Ing. Martin Ahorlu on his part said the E-platform will help solve some of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) that Ghana has signed onto.
He said it will also offer smart jobs to the operators and urged all to patronize the system.
“By 2030 we would have wished that we propel our metropolitan assembly to a better pedestal, in fact, to the apex innovation of this kind where we want to solve the sanitation problems. If you look at the SDG goals 3, 6, and 8 the request satisfied all these,” the Director said
