WESTERN REGION MOBILIZES TO OBSERVE WORLD ENVIRONMENT DAY WITH A CLEAN-UP EXERCISE IN SEKONDI-TAKORADI

A massive clean-up exercise was organized within the Central Business District of Takoradi to climax the collaboration among the Church of Pentecost, CorpNation Foundation, Takoradi Technical University, and the Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy, and Religious Affairs to observe this year's World Environment Day. The clean-up exercise was part of the week-long activities to raise awareness and encourage community participation in environmental sanitation practices, promoting cleanliness and reducing sanitation-related diseases in the Metropolis and across the country.

Addressing participants during the exercise, the Western Regional Minister, Hon. Joseph Nelson, commended the leadership of the Church of Pentecost for its active role in sanitation initiatives and its continuous support towards maintaining environmental cleanliness. He also lauded the Minister for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs for his commitment to ensuring that Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies effectively discharge their responsibilities.

Hon. Nelson expressed satisfaction with the level of public participation, particularly the willingness of residents to work in gutters and on the streets. He, however, called for stricter measures against shop owners and business operators who fail to participate in sanitation exercises but resume operations after others have undertaken the cleaning. He noted that with the onset of the rainy season, avoidable disasters and disease outbreaks could occur if residents neglected their responsibility to keep their surroundings clean.

According to him, the era of paying lip service to sanitation issues is over. He therefore urged city authorities to enforce sanitation regulations and apply sanctions against occupants of shops and stores who fail to maintain cleanliness within their operational areas, stressing that “the best from the West must be seen and felt.”

The founder of CorpNation, Mr. Saviour Kweku Adzika, stated that the organization's activities are focused on promoting sanitation and environmental responsibility. He encouraged residents to take ownership of waste management, discourage littering, and live responsibly. He added that although Takoradi is a well-planned city, its development must be complemented with responsible environmental practices and proper waste management.

A lecturer from Takoradi Technical University, Prof. Gladys Quartey, expressed concern about the health implications of poor sanitation, noting that many preventable diseases and ailments are linked to unclean environments. She urged residents to take collective responsibility for protecting and preserving the environment.

The Area Head of the Church of Pentecost, Apostle Sylvester Arhin, thanked the Ministers for their commitment to development and sanitation. He explained that one of the Church’s key visions is to promote cleanliness and environmental stewardship. He called on residents to rid their lives and communities of filth and appealed to religious leaders to continuously preach the message of cleanliness at all gatherings, emphasizing that a clean nation breeds a healthy population.

The Minister for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, Hon. Ahmed Ibrahim, used the occasion to commend the organizers of the World Environment Day activities for the education provided and the trees planted, which he described as clear indicators of progress. He noted that with the collective willingness of residents, regular clean-up exercises every two weeks could significantly reduce flooding in the city.

Hon. Ibrahim observed that the sanitation challenges confronting Takoradi are largely caused by human activities and therefore called on residents to take responsibility for keeping their communities clean. He further indicated that although Takoradi remains one of the country's best-planned cities, there is a need for deeper analysis of the sanitation challenges to develop lasting solutions.

The Minister assured residents that the Urban Roads Department would be adequately resourced to undertake the necessary desilting and maintenance of drains across the metropolis. He also encouraged city authorities to submit detailed sanitation expenditure proposals to the Ministry for approval and support, assuring them of the government's commitment to efficient waste management and the realization of a cleaner and healthier city.

The clean-up exercise brought together government officials, religious leaders, academia, sanitation organizations, security services, and residents, all united in the shared objective of promoting environmental cleanliness and safeguarding public health.

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