In a colourful display of tradition blending with development, the Bongo Traditional Council has launched an ambitious “Sanitation Challenge,” aiming to eliminate open defecation by 2028.
The historic durbar, held on Saturday, 29th November 2025, also saw the enskinment of the WaterAid Ghana Country Director, Ewurabena Yanyi-Akofur, as Kosom Pognaba (Queen of Clean Water).
The atmosphere in Bongo was charged with a renewed sense of purpose as Naba Baba Salifu Atamale Lemyaarum, the Paramount Chief of the Bongo Traditional Area, rallied his people against the twin challenges of poor sanitation and water scarcity.
The launch of the challenge signals a departure from reliance solely on external aid, moving towards community-led solutions to safeguard the dignity and health of the people.
A centrepiece of this initiative is the establishment of the Bongo Traditional Area WASH Fund.
Spearheaded by the Traditional Council, the fund is designed to finance the construction of household latrines for the vulnerable and install sanitation facilities in strategic public locations.
This move comes as a direct response to the persistent gaps in hygiene infrastructure that have long affected the health and education of children in the district.
In a move symbolising the deep partnership between the community and development partners, Ewurabena Yanyi-Akofur was installed as Kosom Pognaba.
The title recognises her relentless advocacy in tackling Bongo’s fluoride contamination crisis and expanding access to clean water.
Accepting the honour, the newly installed Queen Mother described the title as a call to service rather than a celebration of status.
“Water is more than a resource. It is life. It is dignity. It is the foundation upon which families build their dreams,” Madam Yanyi-Akofur told the gathering.
“To be entrusted with a name that carries the spirit of water reminds me that true leadership is service. As Kosom Pognaba, I accept the responsibility to walk with this community with listening ears and an open heart.”
The Paramount Chief, Naba Baba Salifu Atamale Lemyaarum, emphasised that the time for complacency is over. He noted that water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) are not luxuries but fundamental human rights that underpin the productivity of the land.
He charged the youth, elders, and the District Assembly to support the new WASH Fund, stressing that “development begins with collective effort and community responsibility.”
The launch of the Sanitation Challenge is a critical commitment to the Bongo WASH Compact, a landmark agreement signed by the chiefs and stakeholders in August this year.
By moving swiftly from signature to action, the Traditional Council has proven that the Compact is a living framework for development, not just a ceremonial document.
Backing the initiative, the Regional Minister, Hon. Akamugri Donatus Atanga, praised the Bongo Traditional Council for its innovative approach to development.
He pledged the Regional Coordinating Council’s full support, describing the target to end open defecation by 2026 as bold but achievable if the community remains united.