The Upper West Regional Chapter of the Church of Pentecost in conjunction with the Wa Municipal Environmental Health Unit has organised a clean-up exercise in the Wa Municipality ahead of the Independence Day celebration.
Speaking to the GBC, the Area Head of the Church of Pentecost–Wa, Apostle Daniel Nii Tetteh Tackie said the church is poised to ensuring that the Upper West Region becomes one of the cleanest cities in the northern part of Ghana.
He said filth and its related health implications on human life and the society are enormous.
Apostle Nii Tackie said as part of the church’s vision 2023: “Possessing the Nations”, the church is using every means to get people committed to God, the kingdom principles and values.
He said as part of their activities, sanitation has been identified as key, because “cleanliness is next to Godliness”.
Apostle Nii Tackie said keeping the environment clean is everybody’s responsibility in ensuring that it is safe for people to live in and called on Ghanaians to join the campaign.
The Area Head of the Church of Pentecost also pointed out that one person’s mistake can cost the lives of many in the society.
He said littering has become a major problem in the Ghanaian society and needs urgent attention to sensitise the people on the negative impact it has on the society. Apostle Nii Tackie emphasised on the need for one to keep his or her environment clean.
“This is a crusade for every-one of us, it is our responsibility so everyone should rise up if you see anyone throwing anything anyhow, let the person pick it.”
“I met several people dropping rubbish and I stopped and asked them to pick them up. This is because someone’s action can cause a whole lot of problems.”
“This year Ghana metrological department has predicted heavy rainfall and we are likely to have lot of floods because of some of these acts. So if we keep quiet we may lose our lives because of some one action,” Apostle Nii Tackie cautioned.
Apostle Nii Tackie said though there are laws and agencies to ensure that our environment is clean, the church will continue to partner them and use persuasive measures to change the mindset of the people.
He said the church will not relent in its effort to ensure that there is attitudinal change in the society. District Pastor for Wapaani, Henry Takyi urged the police at the various visibility check points as well as drivers to see to it that nobody litter the environment indiscriminately.
Upper West Regional Director Information Services Department, Sinto Mustapha Nuhu encouraged Ghanaians to make good use of the disposable plastic materials as some industries buy them for recycling. He said people can even venture into used plastic materials as a business to empower themselves financially. Mr Nuhu called on market women, religious bodies and traditional authorities to join the campaign.
Paul Baba Mornah from the Wa Municipal Environment Health Unit noted that many at times people contract typhoid and cholera through open defecation and advised the public against open defecation.
Mr Mornah said plans are far advanced including awards scheme to motivate institutions to upscale environmental sanitation through league table.
This he said will help motivate people to make their environment clean. He said though there are laws, the punishment for offenders are not deterrent enough.
He said the assembly is in a position to pass byelaws to end the menace.
Story filed by Dennis Bebane.
