Agona West holds massive Sanitation Exercise

There was massive response to the 9th edition of the National sanitation exercise at Agona Swedru as Mr Emmanuel Kwadwo Agyekum, Deputy Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, chiefs and government officials took part in the six hours massive clean-up.

The exercise formed part of the ninth edition of the National Sanitation Day programme.

Nana Ogidigram Asiedu Kobina Botwe the Second, the Swedruhene and Adontenhene of the Nyakrom Traditional Area, and his sub-chiefs, joined the exercise as early as 0600 hours, desilting choked gutters, and sweeping the streets of Agona Swedru.

The movement of vehicles from Agona Swedru to other destinations was halted by security agencies, to pave way for the smooth execution of the exercise.

Some drivers who had wanted to dodge the clean-up exercise, were compelled to take part before being allowed to move their vehicles.

The Agona West and two other Municipal Assemblies, namely, Assin North and Cape Coast, which hosted the National Sanitation Day in the Central Region.

Mr Samuel Oppong, Municipal Chief Executive for Agona West and Charles Obeng-Inkoom, Member of Parliament (MP) for Agona West were among the teeming participants.

The Deputy Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Mr Agyekum who was seen with a shovel to clean choked gutters, expressed concern about the way some Ghanaians threw refuse into gutters and onto the streets.

Addressing the participants after the exercise, Mr Agyekum thanked the chiefs and the people of Agona West for accepting the National Sanitation Day instituted by President John Dramani Mahama.

He urged Ghanaians to change their attitude towards environmental sanitation.

Nana Botwe assured the Deputy Minister that the Swedruman Council of Chiefs would not rest on its oars, but strive hard to ensure that people stopped dumping refuse indiscriminately.

Mr Oppong said the Assembly was doing everything possible to support the Environmental Health Department of the Assembly and Zoomlion to improve sanitation in the Municipality.

Mr Oppong asked the people who continued to throw refuse onto the streets to stop, adding that the Environmental Health and Sanitation Department would intensify its operations to ensure environmental cleanliness.

Mr Obeng-Inkkoom praised the Police, Fire Service, Ghana Immigration Service, NADMO, Non-Governmental Organizations and other keep fit clubs, for their continuous support for the exercise.

Before the Sanitation Day, Mr Agyekum who together with the Minister for Local government, Alhaji Collins Dawdah and another Deputy Minister, Nii Lantey-Vandayere, during their five-day stay in the Central Region, visited some MMDAs.

They included Effutu, Agona West, Gomoa East, Ajumako-Enyan-Essiem and Asikuma-Odoben-Brakwa and Awutu-Beraku where he appealed to the people to embrace the programme.