The Central Regional Minister, Ekow Panyin Okyere Eduamoah, has called on media practitioners, religious leaders, and traditional authorities across the region to intensify public education on sanitation as part of efforts to promote cleaner and healthier communities.
According to the Minister, poor sanitation continues to pose a major challenge in many parts of the Central Region, making it necessary for all stakeholders to join forces in addressing the problem through sustained awareness creation and behavioural change campaigns.
Speaking during an inspection tour of the ongoing 24-hour economy market projects at Twifo Praso, Hon. Eduamoah stressed that maintaining environmental cleanliness should not be left to government alone, but must become a shared responsibility among citizens, institutions, and community leaders.
He noted that government spends huge sums of money annually on sanitation-related activities, including waste management, desilting exercises, and community clean-up campaigns.
According to him, if residents adopt proper sanitation practices and maintain clean surroundings, such resources could instead be channelled into critical sectors such as education, healthcare delivery, road infrastructure, and job creation initiatives.
The Minister emphasized that the media, churches, mosques, and traditional institutions wield enormous influence within society and therefore have a crucial role to play in shaping public attitudes towards sanitation and environmental cleanliness.
“Pastors, imams, chiefs, and the media can help drive the message of cleanliness and environmental responsibility to the grassroots.
We all have a role to play if we want to build a healthier and more attractive region,” he indicated.
Hon. Eduamoah further reiterated his ambition of making the Central Region the cleanest region in Ghana and urged residents to take personal responsibility for keeping their homes, communities, and public spaces clean at all times.
He encouraged citizens to avoid indiscriminate dumping of refuse and to actively support sanitation initiatives introduced by local assemblies and community leaders.
Meanwhile, the District Chief Executive for Twifo Atti-Morkwa District, Isaac Yawson, pledged his full support for the Minister’s sanitation agenda and broader development vision for the district.
Hon. Yawson expressed gratitude to John Dramani Mahama and the government for the confidence reposed in him through his appointment, assuring residents that he would work diligently to ensure the successful completion of the ongoing 24-hour economy market projects.
According to the DCE, the market projects are expected to significantly improve local economic activities by creating employment opportunities for the youth, enhancing trading conditions for businesses, and stimulating economic growth within the district.
He also reaffirmed his commitment to collaborating with traditional leaders, assembly members, traders, and residents to promote sanitation, environmental sustainability, and development across the district.
Story by Yaw Boagyan
