Chiefs pledge support for National Sanitation

Awulae Attibrukusu the third, Omanhene of the Lower Axim Traditional Area, Nana Adu Kwaw the second, Chief of Nzema Nkropong and Tufohene Acka Azane Etwebewu of Hafa-Assin, have pledged their support for the National Sanitation Day (NSD) exercise instituted by the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development.

The exercise is scheduled to take place every first Saturday of the month, and on Saturday June 6, the Western Region will have its turn of the national event.

The chiefs made the pledges when Alhaji Collins Dauda, the Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, paid courtesy calls on them at their palaces to solicit their support for the eighth NSD in the region.

Awulae Attibrukusu said sanitation was one of the key issues that must be given priority and encouragement in our various communities, to promote public and environmental health.

He noted that chiefs were agents and partners of development, and that with support from the chiefs in the region, the NSD exercise would succeed.

The Omanhene expressed gratitude to the minister and his entourage for recognizing chiefs as the agents to propagate the agenda of the exercise in their various localities.

Nana Adu Kwaw reiterated the commitment of the people of Nkroful to adopt good sanitary practices, to prevent the outbreak of diseases in the district.

He said: "Ellembele district is ready to clean every corner of the district, and we are aimed at beating the other regions in the exercise."

Alhaji Dauda reiterated the government’s commitment to provide the citizenry with basic amenities and to create an enabling environment to promote businesses and investment.

He noted that without good health, the provision of basic amenities would be meaningless, and urged chiefs and assembly staff to promote good sanitary practices in the various communities.

He aslo appealed to the chiefs to encourage the people to promote development in their various localities, and propagate the message of good sanitary practices.

Alhaji Dauda who is also the Member of Parliament for Asutifi South, noted that sensitization and education were important in daily life and activity, and said this must be encouraged in order to instill and inbibe the spirit of good sanitation practices in Ghanaians.

He urged Ghanaians, especially traditional authorities, and opinion leaders, to effectively support the NSD campaign for it to achieve the desired impact.

Mr James Atta Kakra Baidoo, Nzema East District Chief Executive (MCE) said the Assembly was faced with challenges and that notwithstanding, a lot of progress had been made.

"We still need government support to complement the efforts we are making,” he said.

The Western Regional Minister, Mr Paul Evans Aidoo, commended the chiefs and people of the region for their support for the national sanitation exercise, and appealed to them to continue to patronize the exercise in their localities.