Karim Salifu
The Assembly Member for the Mpasatia Electoral Area in the Atwima Mponua District of the Ashanti Region, Karim Salifu, has cautioned residents against apathy towards communal labour, warning that defaulters will be sanctioned in line with district sanitation by-laws.
Speaking in an interview during a community clean-up exercise held on January 22, 2026, Mr. Salifu stressed that environmental cleanliness is a shared responsibility and not the duty of only a few individuals.
“Cleanliness is key to development. Anyone who refuses to take part in communal clean-up exercises without a valid reason will face the law,” he stated.
The exercise, which attracted residents, youth groups and opinion leaders, was aimed at improving sanitation and promoting public health in the community.
The initiative was led by the Nana Mmerantɛɛhene of Mpasatia, Nana Osei Asibey, who underscored the need to protect the environment, particularly water bodies within the community. He warned residents against indiscriminate dumping of refuse in rivers and streams, describing such practices as dangerous to both human health and the ecosystem.
According to Nana Osei Asibey, polluted water sources increase the risk of waterborne diseases such as cholera and typhoid fever, as well as threaten farming activities and other livelihoods that depend on clean water.
He noted that maintaining a clean environment aligns with traditional values and modern environmental laws, urging residents to adopt responsible waste disposal habits.
Environmental experts have repeatedly warned that poor sanitation contributes to flooding, the spread of disease and environmental degradation. Regular community clean-up exercises, they say, help clear choked drains, reduce waste accumulation and preserve natural resources.
Residents of Mpasatia expressed appreciation for the initiative and pledged to support future exercises to ensure a clean and healthy environment.
Community leaders reaffirmed their commitment to sustaining sanitation activities, emphasising that collective action remains the surest way to promote development and safeguard the environment for future generations.
FROM David Afum, Mpasatia