The clean-up exercise, which was held at four strategic locations within the district capital, Jema, attracted active participation from chiefs, tailors and dressmakers, youth groups, hairdressers and beauticians, the Council of Churches, market women, the Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU), garage associations, and security agencies. Several communities across the district also organized parallel clean-up activities.

Participants began assembling as early as 5:30 a.m. to take part in the exercise, which forms part of the initiative introduced by President John Dramani Mahama, requiring all Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) to lead monthly sanitation exercises. The National Sanitation Day is observed on the first Saturday of every month and seeks to revive the communal spirit that once ensured cleaner communities.

Addressing participants after the exercise, Mr. Zuuri expressed appreciation to the chiefs and stakeholders whose active involvement contributed to the success of the programme.

He urged residents to sustain the momentum, emphasizing that “cleanliness is next to godliness.” He particularly appealed to market women and traders to ensure that the frontages of their shops remain clean at all times.

“The security services, NADMO and District Environmental Health Officers will be conducting routine inspections,” Mr. Zuuri warned. “Anyone who fails to keep their frontage clean, especially food vendors, will face legal consequences.”

The DCE also called on owners of undeveloped plots to regularly clear their lands to prevent the breeding of mosquitoes and the infestation of reptiles.

“The District Assembly will soon take action against landowners whose plots are overgrown with weeds, and the law will be enforced,” he cautioned.

Mr. Zuuri reiterated that sanitation regulations are here to stay and that offenders would be sanctioned accordingly.

In a passionate appeal, he stressed that disease outbreaks do not discriminate.

“If there is an outbreak in the Kintampo South District, it will affect everyone in the community,” he said.

The Bono East Regional Director of the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO), Mr. Kwasi Lampo, also addressed participants on the dangers of environmental neglect.

He noted that poor sanitation practices, largely caused by residents themselves, continue to pose serious threats, including the blockage of drainage systems during heavy rains.

“Part of our responsibility is to educate the public on maintaining a clean environment to prevent future disasters,” Mr. Lampo stated.

He further encouraged residents to plant more trees around their homes and communities to help mitigate the effects of climate change.

Following the clean-up exercise, a community durbar was held to provide residents with the opportunity to raise concerns and discuss lessons learnt from the programme.