The Volta Regional Coordinating Council (VRCC) is committed to improving total sanitation in the region, and as part of this commitment, a Community Construction Team Training Workshop was organized in partnership with UNICEF. The workshop was held from November 28^th to 30^th, 2022 in Akatsi. The primary aim of the workshop was to equip participants with the requisite skills and knowledge to achieve community-wide latrine coverage using the Community Construction Team (CCT) Approach in challenging communities.

Participants were drawn from various departments and units, including the Environmental Health and Sanitation Unit, Community Development Unit, and Works Department of the Akatsi Municipal Assembly. The training was interactive, with the trainers comprising one External Expert and three Regional Support Officials from VRCC. The trainers created the opportunity for participants to fully understand concepts through engaging the participants in discussions and feedback sessions.

Mr. Joel Aweyam, a Senior Social Development Officer at the Regional Office of the Department of Community Development who participated in the training workshop as a support facilitator, provided technical support to participants. He emphasised the importance of effective community mobilisation and engagement in achieving CCT objectives, which he observed could significantly enhance the success rate of CCT initiatives by creating a sense of ownership among community members.

The Senior Social Development Officer recommended that participants leverage on existing community structures, such as traditional leaders and community-based organizations to facilitate community mobilisation and engagement.

He furthermore recommended the adoption of a participatory approach that involves active community involvement in decision-making processes and project implementation to enhance the success rate of CCT initiatives.

In conclusion, the community construction team training workshop was a success, with participants receiving invaluable training on the use of the CCT Approach to achieve community-wide latrine coverage in challenging communities.