Kpone-katamanso: Mr Samuel Tetteh Kwashie Morton, the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) for Kpone-Katamanso, on Saturday, defied persistent rains to lead a massive clean-up exercise at Zenu, reaffirming the assembly's commitment to environmental sanitation and public health. The exercise attracted assembly members, staff of the Kpone-Katamanso Municipal Assembly, sanitation officers, community leaders, youth groups, and residents, focusing on desilting drains, clearing refuse dumps, and removing weeds from major roads and public spaces within the community.
According to Ghana News Agency, addressing participants during the exercise, Mr Morton stated that the rain could not deter the assembly from fulfilling its duties and responsibilities to the people. He highlighted that the rainy season often revealed environmental challenges within communities, with poor sanitation and choked drains being among the major causes of flooding. Mr Morton emphasized that it is crucial to intensify clean-up efforts during this period as many sanitation-related challenges become evident.
Mr Morton expressed concern over the indiscriminate dumping of refuse into drains and waterways, which posed a threat to lives and properties during the rainy season. He reiterated the assembly's commitment to ensuring that drains within the municipality are regularly cleared to facilitate the free flow of water and reduce flooding. The MCE urged residents to support the assembly's efforts by adopting responsible waste disposal practices and maintaining cleanliness in their surroundings.
He stressed that sanitation should not be the sole responsibility of the government and local authorities but a collective responsibility requiring active participation from every citizen. Mr Morton called on landlords, tenants, and business operators to ensure that drains around their premises are regularly cleaned to prevent blockages that could lead to flooding. He warned against the indiscriminate disposal of plastic waste and other refuse into drains, noting that such practices undermine the assembly's efforts to improve sanitation conditions.
Mr George Freeman, the Kpone-Katamanso Municipal Environmental Health Officer (MEHO), stated that the assembly would ensure proper sanitation practices within communities, warning that residents who disregard the assembly's by-laws would face prosecution. He noted that poor sanitation practices could hinder the municipality's progress and urged residents to adhere to proper sanitation practices to avoid prosecution.
Some residents who participated in the exercise commended the MCE for leading the clean-up despite the rains, describing his actions as a demonstration of commitment and leadership. They expressed hope that the exercise would improve environmental cleanliness and encourage residents to take sanitation issues more seriously.
The clean-up exercise is part of a broader sanitation campaign by the Kpone-Katamanso Municipal Assembly to promote environmental cleanliness, prevent flooding, and safeguard public health within the municipality.