Communities developing “apathy” towards NSD – Vanderpuije

The Accra mayor, Alfred Okoe Vanderpuije has intimated that members of some communities in the capital city are beginning to develop some level of indifference towards the national sanitation day exercises.

Today marked the third National Sanitation Day which was instituted by the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development (MLGRD) in answer to the increasingly poor environmental conditions, particularly in the national capital, Accra.

Participation in the first exercise held in November was described as generally poor as December saw an improved level of patronage.

The day is designed such that residents, waste management companies and other interest groups are mobilized on the first Saturday of each month to undertake a general clean-up exercise but Mr. Vanderpuije said in an interview granted to Accra based radio station Joy FM that observance of the day may suffer if people are not encouraged to partake.

“The people in the communities themselves are not getting out to clean their own communities while others are eager and are doing it, some parts they are not, the apathy issue. So we will continue to encourage people to come out.

"We will continue to organize them around their neighborhood so that they can continue to work” he said.

The mayor also opined that Saturday’s low patronage might be because people are still recovering from activities from the yuletide.

“I think coming out immediately from the Christmas holidays and the New Year, I’m sure has added to it. But I’m sure that February will see more participation from our communities”.