By Evans Worlanyo Ameamu
Keta (VR), Sept 5, GNA-The Chamber for Local Governance (ChaLoG) has commended the National Democratic Congress (NDC) government for reintroducing the National Sanitation Day.
The day set aside each month for Metropolitan, Municipal, District Assemblies (MMDAs) to engage citizens in massive community clean-up exercises across the country.
This initiative, according to ChaLog was first introduced during the first term of President John Dramani Mahama which significantly contributed to engendering communal labor enthusiasm among citizens.
Dr. Richard Fiadomor, the President of ChaLoG, in an interview with the Ghana News Agency, said the National Sanitation Day was initially introduced to promote cleanliness and sanitation across the country.
He said the initiative would further bring citizens together to participate in monthly clean-up exercises to take pride in their environment and contribute to a cleaner Ghana and lamented the programme was cancelled by the previous government under Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo in 2017.
He explained that the cancellation of the National Sanitation Day (NSA) has had a significant impact on the country which led to a ddeclinein communal labour enthusiasm among citizens and communities.
“Many Ghanaians who had taken an interest in the clean-up exercises lost momentum, and the country’s sanitation situation suffered as a result of the cancellation.”
The ChaLoG President stated that the relaunch of the national sanitation day was expected to rekindle communal labour enthusiasm among citizens and would encourage others to keep their immediate surroundings clean and keep a close eye on the general sanitation situation in their areas.
He said the relaunching of the National Sanitation Day would also highlight the importance of community participation in maintaining a clean environment and urged various MMDAs to develop and implement a robust and sustainable strategy to carry citizens along and reawaken communal labour enthusiasm.
“MMDAs are to develop a sustainable strategy to ensure the success of the National Sanitation Day including engaging citizens, promoting community ownership, and providing of necessary resources to support the initiative.”
Dr. Fiadomor said also cautioned MMDAs against wantonly dissipating financial resources under the guise of National Sanitation Day exercises and charged MMDAs to put in place preventive mechanisms to minimise littering and pollution of the environment by citizens in their respectively areas.
He said MMDAs play a crucial role in the success of the National Sanitation Day by working closely with citizens to promote community ownership and ensure that the initiative is effective in improving sanitation in their areas.
GNA gathered that National Sanitation Day would be observed in all communities within various municipal and district assemblies in the country to promote proper sanitation and clean environment.
As the country embarks on the new initiative, it was essential to learn from past experiences and ensure that the National Sanitation Day is implemented effectively to serve as a robust and sustainable strategy to prioritise community engagement and proper mechanisms to achieve success.
Meanwhile, residents of Keta Municipality were eagerly preparing for another clean exercise after the sanitation day was laughed at Anlo-Afiadenyigba a month ago.
GNA
Edited by: Maxwell Awumah/Kenneth Odeng Adade