Alhaji Collins Dauda, Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, has appealed to chiefs to mobilize their people to participate in the next edition of the National Sanitation Day (NSD) exercise scheduled for Saturday, April 4.

The Minister said this when he paid separate courtesy calls on members of the the New Juaben Traditional Council at Koforidua, and the Fanteakwa Traditional Council at Begoro, as part of efforts to mobilize people in the Eastern Region to participate in the NSD.

He observed that the chiefs have the power to mobilize their people to participate in the NSDD programme.

Eastern Region is scheduled to host the Fifth edition of the NSD on Saturday, and as part of activities to prepare the grounds for massive support, the Minster and his deputies are visiting all the traditional areas and district assemblies in the region.

The Minister explained that the NSD exercise was an effort to step up the nation’s response to sanitation, which he described as very poor as compared to other areas of national development.

He said government recognizes the role of traditional authorities in national development, hence the visit to solicit for the full support and participation of the chiefs in the exercise.

The Eastern Regional Minister, Mr Antwi-Boasiako Sekyere who accompanied the Local Government Minster, said government’s intention was to build a sustainable sanitation culture that would ensure cleanliness in the country.

That he said, required the support of all Ghanaians, and urged the chiefs and staff of the various district assemblies to embrace the exercise and make it part of their culture.

Nana Tutu Boateng, Krontihene of the New Juabewn Traditional Area, lauded the exercise, and pledged the traditional council's full support to ensure the success of the programme.