By Samuel Yaokumah/GNA
Akropong-Akuapem (E/R), Oct. 19, GNA – Students and youth groups led a National Sanitation Day clean-up at Akropong-Akuapem, but organisers expressed concern over the low turnout of residents.
The Akuapem North Municipal Assembly organised the exercise through its Environmental Health Department on the theme: “Clean Today for a Healthier Tomorrow.”
Participants gathered at the Akropong Post Office Junction at 0705 hours before desilting choked gutters, sweeping principal streets and clearing roadside weeds.
They included members of Okuapemman Youth in Sanitation and students from Okuapemman, Mount Sinai and Benkum senior high schools.
Staff of the Assembly and the National Youth Authority also joined the exercise.
Mr Julius Zonyra, Municipal Environmental Health Officer, commended the schools and youth group for their turnout and commitment.
He said the participants worked tirelessly despite the limited involvement of other community members.
Mr Zonyra cited earlier exercises at Tutu and Adawso, where residents had supported community leaders to undertake extensive clean-up activities.
“I believe it is about time sanitation laws began to be enforced to serve as a deterrent to people who disregard the exercise with impunity,” he said.
He stressed that National Sanitation Day should remind people of their daily responsibility to keep their surroundings clean rather than serve as an occasional exercise.
Mr Zonyra warned that poor sanitation increased the risk of malaria, typhoid and cholera outbreaks.
He appealed to the government to recruit more environmental health officers, particularly School of Hygiene graduates who had completed their training since 2021.
He also proposed incentives for private companies to establish recycling and waste-to-energy plants, saying the investment could improve waste management and create jobs.
Mr Joel Narock of the National Youth Authority praised the youth group for mobilising at short notice.
He attributed the poor community turnout partly to inadequate publicity and urged residents to recognise that clean surroundings helped prevent communicable diseases.
Mr Kofi Graham, a third-year Okuapemman Senior High School student, said the early start allowed participants to cover considerable ground before temperatures rose.
He called for greater logistical support for future exercises.
Mr Graham said tackling sanitation problems required more than money and stressed the need for adequate human and material resources.
GNA
Edited by D.I. Laary/Kenneth Odeng Adade
Reported by Samuel Yaokumah
Email: [email protected]