The Kasena Nankana West District Assembly, situated within Ghana’s Upper East Region, successfully executed a district-wide clean-up exercise on September 20, 2025. This initiative, echoing President John Dramani Mahama’s national call for improved sanitation practices launched on September 8, 2025, saw a significant mobilization of community members, various security agencies including the Fire Service, Immigration Service, and Military, as well as sanitation workers from Zoomlion Ghana Limited. The collective effort focused on cleaning the Paga township, targeting key areas such as the market center, gutters, and shop frontages. This robust participation underscored the community’s commitment to environmental hygiene and reflected a positive response to the president’s call to action. While the district was unable to participate in the National Sanitation Day on its designated date, the rescheduled clean-up drive demonstrated a strong local dedication to maintaining a clean and healthy environment.
District Chief Executive, Hon. Stephen Aeke Akurugu, lauded the impressive turnout and expressed sincere gratitude to all participants for their valuable contributions. He emphasized the importance of sustained hygiene practices, highlighting the link between unsanitary conditions and the spread of diseases such as cholera and malaria. Encouraging a shift in mindset, Hon. Akurugu stressed that cleanliness should not be confined to designated clean-up days, but rather integrated into daily routines as a fundamental aspect of healthy living. Looking ahead, he announced that the subsequent clean-up campaign would be extended to either the Western zone, encompassing the Chiana area, or the Eastern zone, including the Sirigu area, thereby ensuring a comprehensive approach to sanitation improvement across the district.
Adding his voice to the call for collective responsibility, Mr. Aborah Wenawome, Chairman of the Paga Youth Movement, urged concerted action to address the escalating sanitation challenges. He emphasized the crucial role of youth engagement in driving this change, recognizing the significant demographic weight young people represent in Ghana. Mr. Wenawome appealed to the government, through the District Assembly, to facilitate improved waste management by providing strategically placed communal containers and dustbins. This practical measure, he argued, would provide readily accessible disposal points and thereby discourage indiscriminate waste dumping. His advocacy demonstrates the proactive involvement of youth leadership in seeking solutions for improved sanitation within their communities.
Mr. Wenawome, a known advocate for youth empowerment and development in the district, further called upon the District Chief Executive to strengthen the enforcement of the Sanitation Taskforce Policy. This, he believed, would ensure greater compliance with the “clean frontage” directive, which mandates individuals and businesses to maintain the cleanliness of the areas immediately in front of their properties. By advocating for stricter enforcement, Mr. Wenawome highlighted the importance of accountability in achieving sustainable sanitation improvements. This proactive approach underscores the collaborative efforts between local leadership and youth organizations in driving community development initiatives.
Reinforcing the message of sustained hygiene, the District Environmental Officer, Mr. Fataw Akonaba, commended the high level of community participation in the clean-up exercise. Echoing Hon. Akurugu’s sentiments, he encouraged residents to adopt proper hygiene practices as a daily habit. Mr. Akonaba also expressed his gratitude to President Mahama for initiating the national sanitation campaign, lauding it as a significant and necessary step towards addressing Ghana’s pervasive environmental challenges. His endorsement highlighted the importance of national-level initiatives in inspiring localized action and creating a cohesive nationwide approach to improving sanitation.
The successful execution of the clean-up campaign in the Kasena Nankana West District signifies a positive step towards creating a healthier environment within the community. The collaborative efforts of residents, security agencies, sanitation workers, and local leaders demonstrate a shared commitment to tackling the challenges of sanitation and promoting a culture of cleanliness. The emphasis on sustained hygiene practices, coupled with calls for improved waste management infrastructure and stricter enforcement of sanitation regulations, underscores a comprehensive approach to achieving long-term improvements in environmental health. The active involvement of youth organizations in advocating for change, alongside the supportive leadership of local government officials, bodes well for the future of sanitation initiatives in the district and reflects a broader national commitment to creating a cleaner and healthier Ghana.
