By Michael Foli Jackidy, GNA
Ho (V/R), Aug. 2, GNA – The National Youth Authority (NYA) in the Volta Region has organised a massive clean-up exercise at the Ho Main Lorry Station as part of activities marking the 2026 National Youth Month Celebration.
The exercise, held under the theme: “Rebuilding Values, Inspiring Patriotism: Empowering the Youth in the Digital Age,” brought together more than 200 young people, including students of the Ho Technical Institute, officials of the Volta Regional Coordinating Council (VRCC), personnel of the Ho Municipal Environmental Health Unit, members of women and youth groups, the Progressive Transport Owners Association (PROTOA), and other volunteers.
Participants swept the lorry station, desilted choked gutters, cleared refuse and undertook general sanitation works to improve the cleanliness of one of the municipality’s busiest transport terminals.
Mr Yao Semoade, Volta Regional Director of the NYA, said the exercise formed part of activities to commemorate the 2026 International Youth Day and recognise the invaluable contributions of young people to national development.
He said the initiative was intended to instill the spirit of volunteerism among the youth and encourage them to contribute meaningfully to national development without expecting immediate personal rewards.
“We want young people to stop asking, ‘What is in it for me?’ before serving their country. We want them to leave Ghana better than they found it so they can proudly say they contributed to the nation’s development,” he said.
Mr Semoade commended the participants for their enthusiasm and commitment, describing their contribution as a demonstration of patriotism and love for Mother Ghana.
He announced that other activities lined up for the Youth Month celebration in the region included a thanksgiving service with The Lords Pentecostal Church, an interfaith engagement with the Muslim community, and participation in the national climax of the celebration in Kumasi on August 12.
The Regional Director also expressed concern about drainage challenges at the Ho Main Lorry Station, particularly at the exit point, and appealed to the Ho Municipal Assembly to undertake engineering assessments to improve the drainage system.
Madam Cinderella Esinam Agbakpe, Assistant Environmental Health Analyst at the Ho Municipal Environmental Health Unit, commended the NYA for partnering with the Assembly to promote environmental sanitation.
She said maintaining a clean environment was a shared responsibility and urged residents to take ownership of sanitation instead of expecting government alone to keep public places clean.
“Sanitation is everybody’s responsibility. Government alone cannot keep our communities clean if individuals continue to litter indiscriminately. We all have a role to play in maintaining the cleanliness of Ho, the ‘Oxygen City’,” she said.
Madam Agbakpe identified unauthorised access to some waste disposal sites as a persistent challenge, noting that despite repeated evacuation and clean-up exercises, some people continued to dump refuse indiscriminately.
She recommended the installation of security gates and the deployment of security personnel at such locations to prevent illegal dumping and ensure sustained cleanliness.
Madam Agbakpe expressed optimism that with stronger community participation, continuous public education and improved sanitation infrastructure, Ho could maintain its reputation asone of Ghana’s cleanest municipalities.
GNA
Edited By: Maxwell Awumah/Audrey Dekalu