UE/R: SOCO PROJECT FACILITATORS URGED TO WORK HARD FOR THE SUCCESS OF THE PROJECT – DCE NABDAM
BY: Gladys Apuweni
The Bolgatanga Municipal Assembly on Saturday, 7th February, joined the rest of the country to observe National Sanitation Day with a massive clean up exercise across major parts of the municipality.
The initiative, led by the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), Honourable Roland Ayo Atanga, brought together a wide range of stakeholders to promote environmental cleanliness and public health. Participants included students from several Senior High Schools among them Bolga Girls Senior High School, Zamstech, Botech and BCI, as well as officers from the Ghana Police Service, the Ghana Armed Forces, and staff of the Environmental Protection Agency.
The exercise covered markets, lorry parks, streets and other public spaces, with participants desilting gutters, sweeping roads and clearing refuse. Residents and traders were also encouraged to take active part in keeping their surroundings neat.
Speaking during the exercise, Hon. Atanga said the Assembly is determined to ensure a cleaner and healthier Bolgatanga. He announced that a special sanitation task force has been established to enforce compliance with environmental standards.
“We want Bolgatanga to be one of the cleanest municipalities in the country. Anyone who fails to participate in clean-up exercises and keeps a dirty environment will face sanctions,” the MCE stated.
He added that a new set of by laws will soon be introduced to back the enforcement drive and ensure that offenders are dealt with according to the law.
The Assemblyman for Soe Electoral Area, Hon. Lambert Akunzele, described the exercise as highly successful. He commended the level of participation and emphasized the need for firmness in enforcing sanitation rules.
“Sometimes, a little force is necessary to get things done. Cleanliness is not optional it is our collective responsibility,” he said.
Hon. Akunzele also urged traders, especially those in the markets and along busy streets, to make it a habit to clean their surroundings daily and not wait for official clean up days.
Residents who witnessed the exercise expressed hope that the initiative would be sustained, noting that a cleaner environment would improve health, boost tourism, and enhance the overall image of the municipality.
The Bolgatanga Municipal Assembly has therefore called on all citizens to cooperate with the task force and comply with the forthcoming bylaws as part of efforts to build a cleaner, safer and healthier municipality for all.
