C/R: Agona West Municipal Assembly vows to regain lost glory as cleanest assembly

The Agona West Municipal Assembly on Saturday participated in the National Sanitation Day clean-up exercise with a stern warning to residents, particularly those who refuse to clean the frontages of their shops and stores but instead dump refuse into gutters.

The Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) for Agona West, Hon. Eric Gyamfi Odoom, noted that the Assembly was working hard to regain its previous status as the cleanest assembly in the Central Region and among the best in the country. He said the Assembly had begun cracking down on people who believe it is a toothless bulldog.

"We have reasons why the sanitation committee has been formed to monitor the activities of people who carry out their daily businesses on the streets of the municipality and deal drastically with environmental offenders.

"Since the committee took office, I am happy to say things are better than previously, and they will continue to improve. What we as an Assembly need is collaborative effort to make Agona West free from environment-related diseases," he said.

Hon. Eric Gyamfi Odoom called for attitudinal change to improve environmental health and wellness, adding that the Assembly would continue to provide the necessary tools and logistics for National Sanitation Day clean-up exercises.

The Chairman of the Agona West Municipal Assembly Environmental Health and Sanitation Task Force, Mr. Saeed Bashiru, noted that although attendance was low, the few people who participated in the exercise did a remarkable job beyond expectations.

He announced that most of the people who failed to clean the frontages of their premises during the previous clean-up exercise had been fined GH¢300. According to him, many have paid, while a few who have failed to do so would be sent to court.

Mr. Bashiru, who is also the Municipal Finance Officer (MFO) of the Agona West Municipal Assembly, said fines collected from sanitation offenders had been paid into the Internally Generated Fund (IGF) to support the Assembly's development agenda.

The Head of the Environmental Health and Sanitation Department of the Agona West Municipal Assembly, Mr. Mac Dzodzodze, urged residents to make environmental cleanliness a daily routine, stressing that maintaining a clean environment is everyone's responsibility.

He thanked the Municipal Chief Executive, Hon. Eric Gyamfi Odoom, and the management staff of the Assembly for their continued support for the monthly National Sanitation Day clean-up exercise.