(TANKAS)-"SAMAN-SAMAN" IS BACK - GA EAST MCE TELLS RESIDENTS AS SHE TEAMS UP WITH HON. ADWOA SAFO, MP, TO ORGANIZE MASSIVE CLEAN-UP EXERCISE TO OBSERVE NATIONAL SANITATION DAY
The Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) for the Ga East Municipal Assembly (GEMA), Hon. Janet Tulasi Mensah, has cautioned residents of the municipality to desist from bad sanitation practices as the Assembly has reintroduced the "Saman- Saman" programme. She made this call at a clean-up exercise to mark National Sanitation Day at Mile 7, Old Peace FM and other areas along the Achimota-Ofankor highway.
Described by many as the largest, well-attended and participated National Sanitation Day (NSD) Clean-up exercise ever organized in the municipality since the inception of the programme, the exercise involved about 1000 people including the Member of Parliament (MP) for Dome-Kwabenya, Hon. Lawyer Sarah Adwoa Safo and the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) for Ga East Municipal Assembly, Hon. Janet Tulasi Mensah, the Municipal Coordinating Director (MCD), Mr. Joshua Adams Asihene, all Assembly Members and Staff of the Assembly, about 500 NABCO Trainees, members of the NPP in the Dome-Kwabenya Constituency, personnel from Zoomlion and Environmental Service Providers (ESPs) in the municipality as well as residents and traders.
The exercise took place simultaneously along the Achimota-Ofankor highway from Neoplan Station, Achimota ABC, Mile 7 area through St. John's to Taifa with the participants put into groups to ensure effective and efficient work. Assembly Members were tasked to supervise the groups with Hon. MP and Hon. MCE joining at various points to clear bushy areas, sweep filth-engulfed places and gathered the rubbish for the dump tracks to cart away.
The scene of rubbish and weeds on top of the Mile 7 flyover pedestrians walkway was an eyesore and depicted years of neglect, presumable never tidied up since the construction of the road. The footpath was bushy and filled with filth which made one wondered, despairingly, how it happened.
However, through the hard work of the NABCO Trainees and Zoomlion personnel, the flyerover was cleaned and restored to a beautiful, usable state for pedestrians.
Addressing the participants and the media prior to the commencement of the exercise, the MCE for GEMA, Hon. Janet Tulasi Mensah, stated that the exercise was part of efforts by the Assembly to help realize the vision of the President, His Excellency Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, to make "Accra the Cleanest City in Africa" through the Clean Ghana Agenda.
She said "as citizens, we're duty-bound to keep our homes, streets and communities clean and beautiful and make it safe for us all to live in".
To this effect, and to ensure the enforcement of the by-laws of the Assembly to keep the municipality clean and healthy and make the environment safe at all times and to check sanitation offenders, Hon. Janet Tulasi Mensah announced the reintroduction of the "Saman- Saman" concept.
"I'm sounding caution to all residents that the "Saman- Saman" is back. We're coming to inspect your communities and even your houses and rooms, especially your kitchens, and prosecute offenders because if we don't resort to the use of the laws now, filth will kill us all", the Hon. MCE revealed.
She further stated her commitment towards the sustenance of the National Sanitation Day Clean-up Exercise.
"We want to assure you all that this exercise is not going to be a nine-day wonder but we'll continue to do it and also appeal to all residents to own the frontage of their homes up to the middle of the road/street as mandated by law", Hon. Janet Tulasi Mensah said.
She also stated that the Assembly, under her leadership, has formed Sanitation Clubs in 31 Public Basic Schools in the municipality to instil into the children, from the cradle, the habit of waste segregation and reduction which is already been implemented in the schools. She added that the Sanitation Clubs are also involved in tree-planting activities to help reduce the incidence of climate change and also beautify the schools and the communities.
On her part, Hon. Lawyer Sarah Adwoa Safo, MP for Dome-Kwabenya, underscored the significance of the exercise, stating that "we cannot sit unconcerned to allow filth to engulf our communities and cause diseases and other hazards to our lives. It's upon this basis, and in realization of the "Clean Ghana Agenda" by H. E. President Nana Akufo-Addo, that we've gathered here today to clean this area and sensitize the people of the need to keep their homes and communities clean".
She encouraged all the residents to support the government's efforts at ensuring the city is kept tidy and made beautiful and safe for living by being responsible for the cleanliness of their homes, streets and communities.
Hon. Adwoa Safo promised to use her outfit to help promote good sanitation practices in the municipality.
The Municipal Environmental Health Officer (MEHO), Mr. Charles Asabre, outlined the strategies the Assembly is embarking on to realize the "Clean Ghana Agenda" and ensure the municipality is clean.
He disclosed that as part of the strategies, 50 Nation Builders Corps (NABCO) Trainees have been oriented and trained on the Sanitation Bye-Laws of the Assembly and are going to form the core of the implementation of the "Saman- Saman"-Tankas (town councillor) programme.
He added that starting this year, every last week of the month is designated as Sanitation week where his officers will visit residential an work premises to inspect sanitation conditions while the Friday before the NSD is used to sensitize the residents and traders within the jurisdiction for the exercise on the need for them participate, failure of which will attract sanctions which include fines or prosecution at the law courts.
In this respect, he further explained that each month a community is selected for the municipal version of the NSD clean-up exercise where all staff of the Assembly and other agencies or partners zoom in into the community for the exercise while all Assembly Members have been adequately equipped to carry out similar exercises in their respective Electoral Areas.
He said the Assembly has the authority under the law to prosecute sanitation offenders.
He said 60 sanitation offenders have been summoned to appear before the law court for various offenses as failing to participate in the clean-up exercises, littering, improper disposal of refuse and lack of household toilets.
"This is an effort by the Assembly to enforce our By-Laws so that people keep their surroundings clean. The power has been there for some time now and it's about time we act and let the citizenry know that they just can't create waste and be living in unclean environment. Because we have relaxed and we decided to educate the people, they think nothing can be done and I think that we have done enough education. People now know that they are not supposed to litter, they are not supposed to throw waste behind their houses or backyard, they are not supposed to defecate openly, they are not supposed to throw refuse into gutters. Where you work you are supposed to keep the place clea and if there is clean-up exercise it is your responsibility to be part. people know they are supposed to be part. People know all these things, so if you know and just decide to go contrary then we have to ensure that the laws are enforced".
The NABCO Coordinator for the Ga East Municipality, Mr. Elisha Kwame Appeadu, stated that the vision of President Nana Addo instituting the NABCO was to create opportunities for Ghanaian graduates to learn on the job, earn income and experiences and help build this nation.
He said it was in that spirit he mobilized the Trainees in their numbers to participate in the NSD clean-up exercise.
He promised to continue to use his outfit to help the Assembly achieve the President's "Clean Ghana Agenda" of making "Accra the Cleanest City in Africa".
The Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) for the Ga East Municipal Assembly (GEMA), Hon. Janet Tulasi Mensah, has cautioned residents of the municipality to desist from bad sanitation practices as the Assembly has reintroduced the "Saman- Saman" programme. She made this call at a clean-up exercise to mark National Sanitation Day at Mile 7, Old Peace FM and other areas along the Achimota-Ofankor highway.
Described by many as the largest, well-attended and participated National Sanitation Day (NSD) Clean-up exercise ever organized in the municipality since the inception of the programme, the exercise involved about 1000 people including the Member of Parliament (MP) for Dome-Kwabenya, Hon. Lawyer Sarah Adwoa Safo and the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) for Ga East Municipal Assembly, Hon. Janet Tulasi Mensah, the Municipal Coordinating Director (MCD), Mr. Joshua Adams Asihene, all Assembly Members and Staff of the Assembly, about 500 NABCO Trainees, members of the NPP in the Dome-Kwabenya Constituency, personnel from Zoomlion and Environmental Service Providers (ESPs) in the municipality as well as residents and traders.
The exercise took place simultaneously along the Achimota-Ofankor highway from Neoplan Station, Achimota ABC, Mile 7 area through St. John's to Taifa with the participants put into groups to ensure effective and efficient work. Assembly Members were tasked to supervise the groups with Hon. MP and Hon. MCE joining at various points to clear bushy areas, sweep filth-engulfed places and gathered the rubbish for the dump tracks to cart away.
The scene of rubbish and weeds on top of the Mile 7 flyover pedestrians walkway was an eyesore and depicted years of neglect, presumable never tidied up since the construction of the road. The footpath was bushy and filled with filth which made one wondered, despairingly, how it happened.
However, through the hard work of the NABCO Trainees and Zoomlion personnel, the flyerover was cleaned and restored to a beautiful, usable state for pedestrians.
Addressing the participants and the media prior to the commencement of the exercise, the MCE for GEMA, Hon. Janet Tulasi Mensah, stated that the exercise was part of efforts by the Assembly to help realize the vision of the President, His Excellency Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, to make "Accra the Cleanest City in Africa" through the Clean Ghana Agenda.
She said "as citizens, we're duty-bound to keep our homes, streets and communities clean and beautiful and make it safe for us all to live in".
To this effect, and to ensure the enforcement of the by-laws of the Assembly to keep the municipality clean and healthy and make the environment safe at all times and to check sanitation offenders, Hon. Janet Tulasi Mensah announced the reintroduction of the "Saman- Saman" concept.
"I'm sounding caution to all residents that the "Saman- Saman" is back. We're coming to inspect your communities and even your houses and rooms, especially your kitchens, and prosecute offenders because if we don't resort to the use of the laws now, filth will kill us all", the Hon. MCE revealed.
She further stated her commitment towards the sustenance of the National Sanitation Day Clean-up Exercise.
"We want to assure you all that this exercise is not going to be a nine-day wonder but we'll continue to do it and also appeal to all residents to own the frontage of their homes up to the middle of the road/street as mandated by law", Hon. Janet Tulasi Mensah said.
She also stated that the Assembly, under her leadership, has formed Sanitation Clubs in 31 Public Basic Schools in the municipality to instil into the children, from the cradle, the habit of waste segregation and reduction which is already been implemented in the schools. She added that the Sanitation Clubs are also involved in tree-planting activities to help reduce the incidence of climate change and also beautify the schools and the communities.
On her part, Hon. Lawyer Sarah Adwoa Safo, MP for Dome-Kwabenya, underscored the significance of the exercise, stating that "we cannot sit unconcerned to allow filth to engulf our communities and cause diseases and other hazards to our lives. It's upon this basis, and in realization of the "Clean Ghana Agenda" by H. E. President Nana Akufo-Addo, that we've gathered here today to clean this area and sensitize the people of the need to keep their homes and communities clean".
She encouraged all the residents to support the government's efforts at ensuring the city is kept tidy and made beautiful and safe for living by being responsible for the cleanliness of their homes, streets and communities.
Hon. Adwoa Safo promised to use her outfit to help promote good sanitation practices in the municipality.
The Municipal Environmental Health Officer (MEHO), Mr. Charles Asabre, outlined the strategies the Assembly is embarking on to realize the "Clean Ghana Agenda" and ensure the municipality is clean.
He disclosed that as part of the strategies, 50 Nation Builders Corps (NABCO) Trainees have been oriented and trained on the Sanitation Bye-Laws of the Assembly and are going to form the core of the implementation of the "Saman- Saman"-Tankas (town councillor) programme.
He added that starting this year, every last week of the month is designated as Sanitation week where his officers will visit residential an work premises to inspect sanitation conditions while the Friday before the NSD is used to sensitize the residents and traders within the jurisdiction for the exercise on the need for them participate, failure of which will attract sanctions which include fines or prosecution at the law courts.
In this respect, he further explained that each month a community is selected for the municipal version of the NSD clean-up exercise where all staff of the Assembly and other agencies or partners zoom in into the community for the exercise while all Assembly Members have been adequately equipped to carry out similar exercises in their respective Electoral Areas.
He said the Assembly has the authority under the law to prosecute sanitation offenders.
He said 60 sanitation offenders have been summoned to appear before the law court for various offenses as failing to participate in the clean-up exercises, littering, improper disposal of refuse and lack of household toilets.
"This is an effort by the Assembly to enforce our By-Laws so that people keep their surroundings clean. The power has been there for some time now and it's about time we act and let the citizenry know that they just can't create waste and be living in unclean environment. Because we have relaxed and we decided to educate the people, they think nothing can be done and I think that we have done enough education. People now know that they are not supposed to litter, they are not supposed to throw waste behind their houses or backyard, they are not supposed to defecate openly, they are not supposed to throw refuse into gutters. Where you work you are supposed to keep the place clea and if there is clean-up exercise it is your responsibility to be part. people know they are supposed to be part. People know all these things, so if you know and just decide to go contrary then we have to ensure that the laws are enforced".
The NABCO Coordinator for the Ga East Municipality, Mr. Elisha Kwame Appeadu, stated that the vision of President Nana Addo instituting the NABCO was to create opportunities for Ghanaian graduates to learn on the job, earn income and experiences and help build this nation.
He said it was in that spirit he mobilized the Trainees in their numbers to participate in the NSD clean-up exercise.
He promised to continue to use his outfit to help the Assembly achieve the President's "Clean Ghana Agenda" of making "Accra the Cleanest City in Africa".
Comments
Post a Comment