By Mercy Arthur, GNA
Afienya, Oct. 04, GNA – The Ningo-Prampram District Assembly (NIPDA), in collaboration with the Assembly Man for the Afienya Electoral Area, has marked this month’s National Sanitation Day, as part of the government’s renewed cleanup agenda.
The clean-up exercise, which lasted for nearly four hours, had massive participation by stakeholders, including Digon Empire, hairdressers, garment trainees, food vendors, students, and traditional leaders, who swept the major streets of Afienya and its environs.
Mr Raphael Uriel Nartey, the Ningo-Prampram District Chief Executive, told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) that the National Sanitation Day was observed on the first Saturday of every month.
Mr Nartey stated that cleanliness was believed to be a form of godliness and therefore urged the community members to keep their environment clean, to prevent the outbreak of diseases and also to aid in development in the area.
He emphasised that the Assembly had created awareness and education on proper waste disposal and provided the community with facilities to help clean their frontages.
He cautioned vendors against dirtying the streets, and to keep their frontages clean at all times, to promote healthier lifestyles.
Mr Nartey lauded participants of the exercise for their massive support and called on all community members to adhere to clean-up exercises within their community.
Madam Evelyn Nani, the Ningo-Prampram Environmental Health Officer, reiterated that the clean-up exercise, which was part of the President’s initiative, would be held in different area councils in the district each month.
She explained that dirty environment deterred productivity and development of the communities, therefore, it was the responsibility of every individual to keep a clean environment.
Madam Nani stated that the Assembly, would place communal containers at vantage points within the community to help in the proper disposal of waste, cautioning that the area and individuals would be fined if the task force, National Security and the Environmental Officers ever found any waste scatted around the vicinity.
Mr Edmund Botchway, the Assemblyman for the Afienya Electoral Area, said the clean-up exercise was the first to be held after the relaunch of National Sanitation Day, stating that there would be more awareness creation on the importance of environmental cleanliness.
He urged the residents, especially food vendors and shop owners, to endeavour to always clean their frontages, to prevent the imposition of fines on them.
Ms Michelle Aakor Azu, the National Democratic Congress Women’s Organiser for the Afienya TOR Estate, indicated that keeping the environment clean prevented people from contracting communicable diseases such as typhoid and cholera.
She advised food vendors to wash their hands thoroughly before serving food, frequently sweep their surroundings and cover their food well, to prevent contamination.
GNA
Edited by Laudia Sawer/ Christabel Addo