Dr. Apaak endorses Child Sanitation Diplomat’s national campaign

Deputy Education Minister Dr. Clement Apaak has thrown the government’s support behind the national sanitation campaign led by the 6th Child Sanitation Diplomat.

Speaking at the WASH in Schools Policy Dialogue and official launch of the Child Sanitation Diplomat’s one-year project in Accra, Dr. Apaak praised the initiative for promoting youth participation in environmental sanitation and hygiene advocacy.

He described the campaign as a meaningful platform for amplifying children’s voices in national sanitation discussions.

“Your approach of using child-led advocacy to create moral urgency around sanitation is exactly the kind of national shift we need,” Dr. Apaak said while addressing the Child Sanitation Diplomat, Master Artaldus Sung Kuuntanaa.

“By presenting sanitation as a matter of child rights, dignity, health, and environmental protection, you are helping to hold leadership at every level accountable,” he added.

Dr. Apaak commended the young sanitation advocate for demonstrating leadership and innovation through the School Sanitation Solutions Challenge, saying his journey should inspire other young people across the country.

He expressed particular admiration for the proposed Children’s Sanitation Manifesto, which seeks to gather the views of children nationwide on sanitation and hygiene issues affecting them.

“I am particularly impressed by your flagship initiative to develop a Children’s Sanitation Manifesto through nationwide consultations with children,” he stated.

“This effort ensures that the voices of young people are heard and reflected in decisions that affect their future.”

Dr. Apaak said sanitation challenges in schools remain a major concern for the government, noting that many schools still lack access to clean drinking water and decent toilet facilities.

He stressed that improving sanitation in schools requires collaboration among government institutions, development partners, civil society organisations, communities, and families.

“On behalf of the Minister for Education, I therefore call on all benevolent organisations and well-meaning individuals to support Master Artaldus and his sanitation campaign,” he appealed.

Dr. Apaak assured stakeholders that the Ministry of Education and the Ghana Education Service would continue supporting initiatives aimed at improving sanitation and hygiene conditions in schools across Ghana.