Mr. Prince Manu Morris, the Amansie West District Chief Executive (DCE), has commended the people in the area for their massive turn-out and active participation in the monthly clean-up exercises in the district.
He lauded the collective spirit displayed by the people and emphasized that keeping the environment clean was a shared duty, which should not be left in the hands of government agencies alone.
Mr. Morris was speaking after a massive clean-up exercise at Antoakrom, organised by the District Assembly.
Officers from the Ghana Police Service, the Ghana Immigration Service, the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO), and hundreds of enthusiastic residents, joined the exercise to clean-up the communities.
The exercise formed part of nationwide efforts to promote environmental cleanliness, prevent disease outbreaks, and encourage civic participation in community sanitation activities.
The initiative saw a strong show of unity among local authorities, security agencies, and residents, all of whom worked hand-in-hand to improve hygiene and environmental safety within the district capital and its surrounding communities.
Participants undertook sweeping of major streets, desilting of gutters, weeding of public spaces, and clearing of refuse dumps across Manso Antoakrom and nearby communities.
Mr. Morris stressed the need for people to be very interested in environmental issues in their communities.
He said: “Cleanliness is a shared responsibility.
“We must all understand that a clean environment ensures good health and promotes development.
“Illness does not know anybody — when there is a disease outbreak, it affects everyone.
“That is why the Assembly, together with our chiefs, security services, and residents, have joined hands to keep our surroundings clean and safe for all.”
He expressed appreciation to the security agencies for their active involvement, noting that their participation reflected a strong sense of community service and social responsibility.
According to him, the police, immigration officers, and NADMO officials have shown that maintaining law and order goes together with promoting public health and safety.
The DCE further assured residents that the Assembly would continue to strengthen its sanitation programs by enforcing environmental by-laws, providing waste management support, and organizing regular community education campaigns to sustain a culture of cleanliness.
“We are determined to make Amansie West one of the cleanest districts in the Ashanti region.
The Assembly will continue to work with all stakeholders to improve sanitation, protect the environment, and promote good health among our people,” he added.
Traditional leaders, including the Chief of Manso Antoakrom, Nana Okyere Darko Ampem II, praised the government for instituting the National Sanitation Day initiative, describing it as an effective policy that encouraged community participation in environmental management.
Nana Okyere Darko Ampem II urged all residents, especially the youth, to take the exercise seriously and to cultivate the habit of cleanliness in their daily lives.
He said: “We thank the government for this noble initiative.
“Sanitation is everyone’s duty.
“When our surroundings are clean, our health improves, our image as a people is enhanced, and development follows.
“I encourage everyone to actively take part in future sanitation exercises.”
