The Old Tafo Municipal Assembly in the Ashanti Region has organised a mass clean-up campaign ahead of Ghana’s 69th Independence Day celebrations.
The initiative, which took place along major streets and public spaces across the municipality, is part of activities to mark the national holiday while promoting environmental sanitation.
Leading the exercise, Municipal NADMO Coordinator Mohammed Musa encouraged residents to take part in maintaining a clean community and reducing the risk of disease.
The initiative follows a directive from President Mahama, which mandates that every constituency and municipality conduct a clean-up exercise during the first week of each month.
According to the Municipal NADMO Coordinator, maintaining a clean environment is not only a civic duty but also a moral responsibility, particularly in communities with strong religious values. He urged residents to develop good sanitation habits and take an active role in communal labour.
However, he expressed concern over low turnout, especially from residents living along gutters, who often skip the monthly exercises. He also warned against indiscriminate dumping of waste into drains, noting that such practices can cause flooding and create breeding grounds for mosquitoes, increasing the risk of disease outbreaks.
“We are pleading with residents to support this exercise. When we throw rubbish into the gutters, we are creating problems for ourselves. It causes flooding and breeds mosquitoes. Let us all take responsibility for our environment,” he said.
Meanwhile, Assembly Member for the Asuo Afram Electoral Area, Kwame Antwi, praised the government’s initiative, describing it as a positive step toward disease prevention and overall cleanliness in the municipality. He appealed for the exercise to be held twice a month to further reduce waste in communities.
“This initiative is helping to prevent diseases and outbreaks in our community. If possible, we are appealing to the government to make it twice a month so that our environment will remain clean at all times,” he added.