Accra,June 16, GNA-Mr Wilbert Petty Brentum has called for renewed patriotism and volunteerism as Western North marks National Sanitation Day ahead of Republic Day celebrations.
According to him, maintaining a clean environment required conscious individual effort at home, in workplaces, and within communities to complement the interventions of government and other stakeholders.
The Minister made the call during a clean-up exercise held at Sefwi Dwinase in the Sefwi Wiawso Municipality as part of activities marking the National Sanitation Day and the 66th Republic Day celebrations.
Addressing participants, Mr Petty Brentum stressed the need for Ghanaians to revive the spirit of communal labour, patriotism, and volunteerism, which he described as values that once defined many communities across the country.
He expressed concern that the values were gradually fading and being replaced by apathy towards environmental sanitation and public health issues.
“The state of our environment has a direct impact on the health and well-being of the people. We must all take responsibility for keeping our surroundings clean,” he said.
The clean-up exercise at Sefwi Dwinase formed part of a region-wide sanitation campaign organized by the Sefwi Wiawso Municipal Assembly in collaboration with the Western North Regional Chapter of the National Cadet Corps under the supervision of the Western North Regional Coordinating Council (WNRCC).
Similar exercises were simultaneously conducted across all nine Municipal and District Assemblies in the region as part of efforts to improve environmental cleanliness and promote civic education.
The Regional Minister commended members of various school cadet corps who participated in the exercise, including students from St. Joseph Senior Technical School, Sefwi Wiawso Senior Technical School, John Bitar Primary School, and Sefwi Wiawso Senior High School.
He praised the students for demonstrating a high sense of patriotism and volunteerism at a young age, noting that such values would help shape them into disciplined and responsible citizens.
Mr Petty Brentum observed that instilling civic virtues in young people would strengthen national development and encourage selfless service to the country.
The Minister also challenged Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) in the region to provide strong leadership on sanitation issues through effective community engagement and local governance structures.
He urged local authorities to implement sustainable sanitation initiatives and avoid reactive approaches that only addressed environmental challenges after disasters occur.
He commended Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives, Presiding Members, and Assembly officials for their support towards the successful implementation of National Sanitation Day activities across the region.
The Western North Regional Director of the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), Mr. Dramani Sam, together with the Municipal Director, Mr. Laud Swanzy, reminded citizens of their civic responsibility to contribute to the well-being of their communities and protect the environment.
They explained that although Article 41(g) and (k) of the 1992 Constitution places an obligation on citizens to safeguard the environment and support community development, other laws could be relied upon to enforce participation in communal labour where necessary.
They cited provisions of the Chieftaincy Act, 2008 (Act 759), which could provide legal avenues for addressing non-participation in community activities without reasonable justification.
The Western North Regional Environmental Health Officer, Mr. Paul Kwesi Nutsugah, disclosed that environmental health officers continued to rely on various legal frameworks, including the Local Governance Act, 2016 (Act 936) and the Public Health Act, 2012 (Act 851), in carrying out their mandate.
He noted that the current strategy of the Environmental Health Division focuses on intensified public education and behaviour change communication to encourage improved sanitation practices among residents.
However, he warned that authorities may soon intensify inspections and enforcement actions across the region due to the increasing apathy towards household sanitation management.
According to him, the objective is to position the Western North Region among the cleanest regions in Ghana.
Meanwhile, the Western North Regional Cadet Commander, Mr. Charles Appiah-Kubi, assured participants that volunteerism and environmental initiatives would continue beyond the sanitation exercise.
He announced that the next major activity would take place on June 20, 2026, during which approximately 1,500 trees would be planted across the region as part of efforts to promote environmental conservation and climate resilience.
Mr. Appiah-Kubi encouraged residents to actively participate in the tree-planting exercise and support efforts aimed at protecting the environment for future.
GNA
Edited by George-Ramsey Benamba