Massive clean-up of beaches in Mfantseman

Ekumfi Otuam (C/R), Nov. 29, GNA - Mr Robert Quanioo-Arthur, Mfantseman District Chief Executive (DCE), has urged Ghanaians to adopt preventive health measures to ensure sustainability of the National Health Insurance Scheme.

The DCE stated that reports of huge claims being paid by the various District Mutual Health Insurance Schemes could put the laudable health delivery scheme into danger if Ghanaians continued to show disregard for personal and environmental sanitation. =93Most of the diseases which send Ghanaians to seek medical care at health facilities can be prevented if we attach importance to cleanliness,=94 he noted.

Mr Quainoo-Arthur was addressing volunteers made up of school children, assembly members, civil society organization and some residents of Otuam after a three-hour clean-up exercise at the Otuam beach.

The exercise, which was held in all coastal communities in Mfantseman initiated by the District Assembly in collaboration with the District Directorate of Ghana Education Service as part of preparations for the Golden Jubilee of Ghana's Independence and also to promote tourism.

The DCE said the involvement of school children in the exercise was to create the awareness in them about the importance of cleanliness since messages through children travelled far.

=93Beaches serve as tourist sites to foreign visitors, therefore we need to keep our beaches clean at all times=94, he stated. The DCE said every effort would be made by the Assembly and the GES to sustain the exercise.

Miss Vivian Etroo, District Director of Education and Nana Ataapim Kweenu VIII, Presiding Member of the Assembly led volunteers to clean Saltpond and Biriwa beaches.

Nana Ataapim Kweenu said the Assembly would enforce bylaws which prohibit defecation at the beaches and appealed to the traditional authorities to co-operate with the Assembly and unit committees to enforce it. The volunteers were entertained to soft drinks, pineapple and orange juice after the exercise.