The Tamale Metropolitan Assembly (TaMA) in partnership with iCesspool Services, a private digital company has launched the iCesspool Tamale App to connect residents and Bulk Water and Waste Management Service Providers in the metropolis.
Through the mobile application, residents can conveniently receive pit emptying services at their homes without having to move in search of an operator. Similarly, bulk water supply services have been digitalized for the people.
The founder of iCesspool Services, Ing Dominic Aboagye at the launch said the implementation of the Bulk Water Supply and Fecal Sludge Management and Monitoring System by the Tamale Metro Assembly with support from the Catholic Relief Services (CRS) and UNICEF made this initiative possible.
He explained the program has set forth to link households to safe pit emptying and bulk water supply services with the Tamale metropolis, link Emptying Service Providers and Bulk Water Suppliers to citywide customers via phone devices, eliminate incidences of dumping wastewater in unapproved locations within the city as well as checking the supply of non-potable water to homes and promote occupational health and safety in Emptying and Water Supply Operations.
Mr. Aboagye disclosed a tracking dashboard has been established at the Metro Waste Management Department where all transactions and movement routes of the operators are monitored to curb indiscriminate dumping.
He noted each operator under the system has been given a brand-new smart phone to enable easy access to the online platform and make business.
“We have equipped the Metro Compliance Monitoring Team with safety boots and reflective jackets to enforce the use of the platform and undertake public education” he added.
The Mayor of Tamale, Mr. Sule Salifu, for his part urged the populace to engage the services of only authorized agents of the Assembly to carryout waste management services in accordance with the Tamale Metropolitan Assembly Bye-laws.
The Chief Executive also acknowledge the immense support of the Catholic Relieve Services (CRS), UNICEF, 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.
“Non smart phone (Yam Phone) users are not left out. Just call the Metro hotline on 050-1330-430. Only your Digital Address will be required to get Service delivered to your location at a fair and affordable cost. With this we are leaving no one behind the access curve” Mr. Sule Salifu added.
The Tamale Metro Director for Waste Management, Ing Martin Ahorlu believes the initiative will propel the assembly to achieve the UN sustainable development goals especially goals 3, 6 and 8 which talks about Good Health and Wellbeing, Clean Water and Sanitation and Decent Work and Economic Growth respectively.
“This innovation actually satisfies all these three and it is going to make sure that we create more jobs but this time round, its smart jobs. Our city will be clean and people will not be dumping fecal sludge indiscriminately” Mr. Ahorlu emphasized.
