By James Esuon
Nsaba (C/R), July 2, GNA – Mr Samuel Oscar Mensah, the District Chief Executive (DCE) for Agona East, has stressed that prayers alone would not solve the country’s challenges without a corresponding change in attitude among citizens.
He said indiscipline and a lackadaisical attitude towards environmental management had contributed significantly to the nation’s challenges and hindered development across various sectors.
Mr Mensah made the remarks at a National Day of Prayer and Thanksgiving Service held at Nsaba in the Agona East District of the Central Region.
The event brought together chiefs, family heads, heads of departments, civil society organisations and members of the clergy under the theme: “Resetting Our Values Towards the Ghana We all Want.”
He noted that without a deliberate effort by citizens to take responsibility for addressing the country’s challenges, it would be difficult to achieve the desired national goals.
Mr Mensah, therefore, urged Ghanaians to abandon negative attitudes and undesirable behaviours while continuing to pray for national transformation.
He cited indiscriminate dumping of refuse, illegal mining activities, pollution of water bodies, haphazard development and the construction of buildings on waterways as some of the practices impeding national progress.
The DCE expressed concern about the persistent practice of dumping refuse into streets, gutters and streams, and called for stricter adherence to environmental regulations.
He disclosed that the Assembly would soon reintroduce the “saman saman” sanitation enforcement exercise to ensure that offenders were prosecuted at the courts as a deterrent to others.
On illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey, Mr Mensah said the Government remained committed to combating the menace to protect the environment and preserve water bodies.
He commended President John Dramani Mahama for instituting the National Day of Prayer and Thanksgiving, saying the initiative offered Ghanaians an opportunity to reflect on their actions, embrace positive values and seek divine guidance for national development.
Okeseku Afari Mintah III, Omanhene of the Agona Nsaba Traditional Area, urged Ghanaians to uphold cultural values by avoiding cheating, corruption, selfishness and profiteering.
He said the country’s core values must be reflected in all sectors of society and criticised poor work ethics, including lateness and inadequate working hours, which affected productivity.
The Omanhene described the recent floods in Accra, which resulted in the loss of lives and destruction of property worth millions of cedis, as unfortunate and called on citizens to adopt responsible attitudes towards environmental management.
He appealed to Ghanaians to embrace positive values to help build a prosperous and cleaner nation for the benefit of all.
Reverend John Gideon Offei Okyere, Minister in charge of the Agona Nsaba Presbyterian Church, also called on citizens to reset their lifestyles by keeping their surroundings clean and demonstrating reverence for God in all their endeavours.
The Reverend Minister said recent flooding incidents should serve as a reminder for people to show love to one another and avoid hatred and division.
Rev. Kenneth Osafo Amankwa, Headmaster of Nsaba Presbyterian Senior High School and Chairman of the function, commended the President for the reset agenda and urged citizens to contribute their quota towards the nation’s economic, social and cultural development.
He called on Ghanaians to remain patriotic and disciplined, desist from corrupt practices and place national interest above personal considerations.
GNA
Edited by Alice Tettey/Lydia Kukua Asamoah