The Adaklu District Chief Executive, Jerry Yao Ameko, has called on Ghanaians to consider the National Sanitation Day (NSD) exercise as a fundamental civic responsibility that directly impacts public health. He made this appeal during the October edition of the NSD exercise in the Adaklu district, which coincided with the country's commemoration of World Cleanup Day. The event was held under the theme "From Clean Plates to Clean Cities," focusing on reducing food waste and its environmental impact.
Mr. Ameko emphasized that keeping communities clean is not solely the responsibility of local Assemblies but a shared moral, cultural, and civic duty. He noted that regular cleaning drastically reduces breeding grounds for mosquitoes and bacteria, thereby decreasing the incidence of sanitation-related diseases like malaria and cholera. The DCE encouraged the people not to view the exercise as a forced monthly chore but as a vital aspect of community upkeep.
The Adaklu District Environmental Health Officer, Mad Stella Vidzro, praised the community's enthusiasm for the NSD exercise and urged them to sustain their efforts. She requested their assistance in reducing plastic waste in the district. The DCE and DEHO also participated in the exercise with the people of Adaklu Waya and Adaklu Hehekpoe. As part of efforts to improve environmental cleanliness, the government plans to make sanitation management and environmental cleanliness performance metrics for Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Chief Executives.
Mr. Ameko advised the youth to build a culture of environmental responsibility in their homes, workplaces, and communities. He highlighted that "Operation Clean Your Front," an offshoot of the National Sanitation Day, aims to remind people that sanitation is a daily activity. The DCE encouraged everyone to incorporate cleaning into their daily routines, not just as a monthly exercise.
The Adaklu District Assembly has instituted an awards program to honor the three cleanest communities in the district. The Environmental Health Department has been tasked with assessing and selecting the communities that will receive awards at the end of the year. Mr. Ameko emphasized that development projects can only be sited in clean environments, stressing that cleanliness is next to godliness.
The National Sanitation Day exercise also serves as a fitness and healing activity, involving the movement of all body parts. Mr. Ameko encouraged everyone to participate actively in the exercise. The event was well-attended by traditional authorities and other stakeholders, who were urged to maintain the cleanliness of their communities.
The government's initiative to make sanitation management a performance metric for local executives aims to tackle persistent flooding challenges and improve environmental cleanliness. The Adaklu DCE's call to action emphasizes the importance of collective responsibility in maintaining community cleanliness and promoting public health.
Key points
- Adaklu DCE urges Ghanaians to see NSD as a civic duty impacting public health.
- Government to make sanitation management a performance metric for local executives.
- Adaklu District Assembly to award cleanest communities.
