Saltpond Residents Laud Smiling Point's Sanitation Initiative

Residents in and around Saltpond have lauded Smiling Point and Investment Company Limited, a real estate developer, for its initiative to tackle the deplorable sanitation situation in the area.

The company last month, launched the 'Cleaning Streets'' campaign to complement the efforts of the Mfantseman Municipal Assembly in ensuring a clean environment by engaging individuals as sanitary officers to clean the streets.

They provided equipment such as wheelbarrows, cutlasses, hoes, rakes, wellington boots, brooms, shovels, mattocks and raincoats to start the project.

A month after commencement of the project, residents have expressed satisfaction with their work as the major drains in the town which were often clogged and caused flooding during raining season had been de-silted.

The town now looked cleaner than before with some residents becoming more conscious of their environment.

Mr Bismark Ackon, a resident who spoke to the Ghana News Agency, commended the company for their efforts to help ride the town of filth and called on the Government to engage them and help intensify their efforts.

'If you look at the work that they have done in just one month, it's amazing. Initially, I thought Government had contracted them but not knowing it is voluntary. They really need to be encouraged and supported' he said.

Mr Amankwa Rockson, an Environmental Officer with Municipal Assembly, also commended Smiling Point and Investment Company for its role in complementing the efforts of the Assembly to ensure clean and safe environment.

'If you ask me, I will tell you that ever since they started this project, we the environmental officers at the Assembly have been relieved of some of our duties and for that we are grateful' he said.

He said the Assembly would not hesitate to prosecute residents in the Municipality who flouted its environmental sanitation bye-laws and urged the citizenry to report sanitation offenders to the Assembly for the necessary action to be taken.

Mr Kofi Akyen Wilson, the Executive Director of the Company expressed the hope that the project would be extended to other communities in the Municipality to contribute to government's effort at building resilient communities free of disease and ill health.

He implored on individuals and other cooperate institutions to come in and support for them to employ more sanitary officers to expand their tentacles.

He said by doing so, they would be able to execute the task effectively and also create employment for the teeming unemployed youth in the area.

Mr Wilson called on the Assembly to ensure that all households got toilet facility and challenged the citizens to have a change in attitude and endeavour to adhere to government policies regarding sanitation.

He advised the public to desist from littering the streets and ensure proper sanitation management in their homes.

Mr Wilson commended the Municipal Chief Executive and staff of the Assembly for their support and collaboration towards ensuring the success and sustainability of the project.

Mr Joseph Woode, a Sanitary Officer, urged the Assembly to take drastic measures to deal with persons who flouted sanitation laws as their actions impedes efforts to achieve clean environment.

GNA
By Afedzi Abdullah, GNA