You are here: HomeNewsRegional2009 01 22Article 156581

Regional News of Thursday, 22 January 2009

Source: GNA

AMA to clean beaches on Feb. 7

Accra, Jan. 22, GNA-Kick Malaria Out of Africa, a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) championing the cause of malaria eradication in the country, in collaboration with the Ashiedu Keteke Sub-Metro of the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) would embark on a clean-up exercise on the beaches on Saturday, February 7 to boost tourist attraction.

The exercise would also help reduce the filth which had engulfed the beaches, creating breeding grounds for mosquitoes. Mr. Kwabena Osei-Bonsu, Chief Executive of the NGO, who announced this in Accra on Thursday, said the exercise which would begin from the James Town Beach, would end at the Coco Beach at Nungua. He said the issue of malaria eradication in the country should not be the sole responsibility of the government. Mr Osei Bonsu therefore, asked Ghanaians to support the programme and change their attitude towards waste management and that without the behavioural change, the country would continue to remain in filth for years.

He said the NGO would form waste management clubs in first and second cycle schools in the regions to manage waste and that the best club would be awarded every year. Mr Osei-Bonsu said plans were far advanced for his organization to embark on outdoor spraying along the coastal areas of the country as a way of minimizing the spread of the malaria disease. He called on keep fit clubs, religious organizations and other non-governmental organizations to help make the programme a success.