k.K Sam desilting a gutter during the exercise
Residents in the Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolis last Saturday came out in their numbers to actively participate in a clean-up exercise intended to rid the metropolis of filth.
The exercise which was organised by the Sekond-Takoradi Metropolitan Assembly (STMA) saw residents converging very early at the various streets, public places, car parks and market places to fully participate in the clean-up exercise.
The exercise was also meant to promote environmental cleanliness in the metropolis, as well as sensitise residents on the need to change their attitude towards the environment.
The exercise which started from 6:00am to about 12 noon was led by the Metropolitan Chief Executive (MCE) for Sekond-Takoradi, K. K Sam, to rekindle the spirit of communal labour, while promoting hygienic living conditions.
Zoomlion, a waste management company, Takoradi Flour Mills and other organisations in the area supported the clean-up exercise with men, tools and heavy equipment.
The exercise brought about an increased situation of static private and commercial vehicles in the metropolis.
Communities & Market Centres
The various communities and markets in Takoradi, Sekondi, Kwesimintsim, Kojokrom, Effiakuma, Amanful, Anaji and other parts of the metropolis benefitted from the exercise.
At the Takoradi Market Circle, Zoomlion flushed out the silt after the debris was removed.
Mountains of waste from the various households within the sub-metro, as well as the waste from trading activities in the market were evacuated.
Large deposits of sand around street corners and in gutters, which had silted the openings of gutters, preventing rainwater from flowing easily after rains, were also cleared.
At the Takoradi Market Circle, even though the equipment arrived late, soldiers from the Army and Air Force were at hand to support the exercise.
Choked gutters which made it difficult for the free flow of liquid waste in and around the market were cleared with the support of some members of the communities who freely joined in the clean-up exercise.
Meanwhile, some market women who did not see the need to take part in the exercise were seen sitting idle and watched other residents who were busily cleaning up their respective areas.
The Mayor
Speaking to the media during the exercise, the Mayor of Sekond-Takoradi, K. K Sam, disclosed that the essence of the clean-up was to rejuvenate the sense of communal labour which had been abandoned by Ghanaians.
To prevent flooding this year, the mayor told the media that plans were underway to clear all the choked gutters before the rainy season.
Mr Sam praised the general public and the various security agencies for their enthusiastic support for the exercise, and urged them to maintain hygienic standards of living in their respective homes.
He, however, appealed to those who did not participate in the exercise to do well to clean their environment in the next exercise on June 3, 2017.
Donation
The Takoradi Flour Mills donated some items to the assembly to help carry out the exercise.
They included shovels, nose masks, pairs of gloves, among others.
The items are to support the assembly during the Sanitation Day exercise which is held once every first Saturday of every month.
Presenting the items, Persey Bothway, Public Relations Officer (PRO) of Takoradi Flour Mills, explained that the donation was made in response to an appeal made by the STMA on tools needed for clean-up exercise within the metropolis.
“We responded because it is part of our corporate social responsibility- we cannot operate within the metropolis which is engulfed in filth,” he reiterated.