Accra: Dr Fiona Braka, World Health Organisation (WHO) Country Representative to Ghana, has urged Ghanaians to make environmental cleanliness a daily habit to improve sanitation, protect the environment, and prevent disease outbreaks. She made the call in an interview when she led members of the international community, including UNICEF and the World Food Programme (WFP), to participate in the two-day National General Cleaning Exercise.
According to Ghana News Agency, Dr Braka emphasized that while national clean-up exercises were important, their impact would only be lasting if individuals and communities embraced cleanliness as a culture and way of life. She stressed the importance of making cleanliness a part of daily culture and habit, highlighting that everyone has a role in ensuring a clean and safe environment.
The exercise, declared by the Government for July 10 and 11 in seven flood-affected regions under the theme "Our Actions, Our Future: Cleaning Ghana after the Floods," mobilised security agencies, Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies, waste management companies, development partners, and the public to desilt drains, clear refuse, and improve sanitation. Dr Braka, who is also Acting United Nations Ghana Resident Coordinator, noted the significant public health risks posed by pollution and poor sanitation.
Dr Braka urged households to take practical steps to reduce pollution by cutting down the use of plastics, disposing of waste responsibly, and maintaining clean surroundings. She expressed hope that the momentum generated by the two-day exercise would be sustained beyond the campaign period and translated into everyday actions by individuals, households, and communities. Dr Braka concluded by stating that protecting the environment is a shared responsibility requiring the participation of every citizen, emphasizing that it must become a culture and a way of life for all.