Tano South Municipality observes National Sanitation Day at Bechem, marking the second consecutive time the event was held in the area under the administration of the Municipal Chief Executive.
The clean-up exercise attracted a large turnout, with participation from the Member of Parliament for Tano South; Hon. Charles Asiedu, Municipal Chief Executive; Hon. Emmanuel Kwame Frimpong, the Deputy Coordinating Director, Mr. Samuel Dumanya, the Municipal Environmental Health officer, Mr. James Oware, Assembly staff, the local council of churches, Nananom and the general public.
Addressing the gathering, Hon. Emmanuel Kwame Frimpong, the Municipal Chief Executive, expressed delight at the turnout, noting it was an improvement over the previous exercise. Highlighting the significance of the event, he noted that the event is not only about cleaning the environment but also an avenue that brings people together to foster social cohesion and promote healthy living. “A clean environment is a healthy environment, and it’s a collective responsibility,”
Hon. Frimpong mentioned that by-laws have successfully been gazetted, and soon the people of Tano South will be informed on its implementation. He added that dust bins have been donated by the Local Council of Churches and will be distributed at vantage points to improve sanitation in the Municipality.
He cautioned against improper disposal of refuse, warning that defaulters will be dealt with and thanked the government for strengthening the National Sanitation Day initiative and expressed gratitude to the people, hoping that attendance will improve with time.
Delivering the keynote address the Member of Parliament for Tano South, Hon. Charles Asiedu, emphasized that sustaining cleanliness efforts beyond National Sanitation Day and urged citizens to take ownership of keeping their surroundings clean, rather than relying solely on leaders to always come to clean with them. “Cleanliness is next to godliness,” he stressed, highlighting its importance for good health and community development.
Hon. Asiedu expressed appreciation to those who participated in the clean-up exercise and thanked attendees for their efforts, invoking blessings on them. He expressed optimism that future events would see increased participation, fostering a cleaner, healthier community.
He said, maintaining a clean environment is a collective responsibility, requiring the involvement of every individual. “Let’s work together to make our community a beautiful place to live,” he added, encouraging citizens to take pride in their surroundings.
The Municipal Environmental Health Officer Mr. James Oware praised the government’s clean-up initiative, saying it’s helped boost community involvement in keeping Tano South clean and beautiful. He noted that while Zoomlion workers and the Environmental Health Unit have been working, more hands are needed, especially after the reduction Zoomlion staff.
Mr. Oware appealed to the government to post more environmental health officers to support the effort, citing the importance of ongoing sanitation work and said cleanliness is a continuous process, requiring regular attention to keep the community healthy.
He announced that effort have been made to tackle improper disposal of waste, citing the Sanitation Improvement Package project with Zoomlion Ghana Limited which aims at placing skip containers in strategic locations in Bechem. He explained that the project only focuses on the District capital but plans are been made to extend it to major towns across Tano South, including Techimantia, Brosankro and Derma, to tackle illegal dumping. This he said will help clear existing refuse heaps and provide a regular waste collection schedule, with waste being transported to the final disposal site in Techimantia.