The District Chief Executive (DCE) for Atwima Mponua, Hon. Issahaq Ibrahim, has issued a stern warning to residents of the district, stressing that continued neglect of sanitation practices poses a serious threat to their health, livelihoods, and the district’s overall development.
Speaking in Nyinahin after leading last Friday’s monthly clean-up exercise, Hon. Ibrahim cautioned that failure to maintain a clean environment will expose communities to recurring disease outbreaks, drain household incomes, and ultimately slow down socio-economic progress.
Sanitation is a Life-or-Death Issue
Hon. Ibrahim did not mince words as he described sanitation as a matter of life and death. He explained that diseases such as cholera, typhoid, and malaria thrive in filthy surroundings, leading to avoidable deaths and reduced productivity.
“In our daily lives we generate filth, and if we don’t clear it, it turns against us. Filth kills, it brings sickness, and if we don’t clean our environment, it will send us to the grave. This is why sanitation is not just a duty but a survival necessity,” he declared.
Traders and Residents Cautioned
The DCE expressed deep concern over the apathy of some shop owners and traders, especially those operating along the main roads, who often fail to join communal cleaning activities. He described this attitude as selfish and detrimental to the district’s progress.
“Too many traders prefer to stay indoors while only a few people carry the burden of cleaning. Some even operate without proper permits and show disrespect when authorities enforce the by-laws. This cannot continue. From now on, the law will take its natural course, and when it does, nobody will be spared regardless of status or political affiliation,” Hon. Ibrahim cautioned.
Collective Responsibility for Cleaner Communities
The DCE emphasized that government alone cannot ensure cleanliness without the active participation of community members. He therefore appealed to chiefs, assembly members, market women, youth groups, and faith-based organizations to support the initiative.
“Cleanliness is a collective responsibility. It is not for government alone. If our chiefs, pastors, imams, youth, and market women all join hands, Atwima Mponua will not only be clean but also healthier and more attractive for development,” he said.
Sanitation and Development Go Hand in Hand
Hon. Ibrahim highlighted the link between sanitation and economic growth, pointing out that frequent sicknesses caused by poor hygiene drain family incomes and reduce manpower needed for productivity. He further noted that investors are unlikely to establish businesses in unclean communities.
“A clean environment attracts development. Investors will not bring their money into communities that are choked with filth. But if we keep our environment clean, we will not only be healthier but also more prosperous as a district,” he stressed.
Rekindling a National Initiative
The reintroduction of the monthly national sanitation day, first introduced under the late President John Evans Atta Mills but later abandoned, is expected to revive Ghana’s communal spirit of cleanliness.
In Nyinahin, last Friday’s exercise saw participation from youth groups, some traders, assembly members, and opinion leaders. Although officials admitted that turnout was lower than expected, they assured residents that sensitization and enforcement would be intensified in the coming months.
Final Call to Action
Hon. Ibrahim concluded by urging residents to adopt sanitation as a daily lifestyle, not just a monthly exercise, stressing that their health, future, and prosperity depend on it.
“Sanitation neglect is a direct threat to our lives. Let us all rise and embrace this exercise—not for the government, but for ourselves, our children, and generations yet unborn. A clean environment means long life, good health, and development for Atwima Mponua,” he said.
