Bolgatanga East Leads the Charge on National Sanitation Day with a Comprehensive Clean-Up Drive
In a spirited demonstration of community solidarity, the Bolgatanga East District Chief Executive, Hon. Jacob Abugre Aka-eri, spearheaded a robust clean-up exercise as part of the National Sanitation Day celebrations. The event began promptly at 6:00 am at the Bolga East District premises and drew a diverse cross-section of the district’s residents and stakeholders, including traditional leaders, assembly members, security personnel, traders, women’s groups, youth associations, religious leaders, teachers, and students.
From the early morning hours, the air buzzed with the energy of volunteers and supporters arriving with brooms, gloves, rakes, sacks, and reflective vests. Teams were dispatched to major thoroughfares, market areas, drainage systems, and community spaces to tackle litter, weed growth, and blocked gutters. The operation extended beyond street sweeping to include targeted cleanup of the central market, cleanup of drainage channels to improve runoff, and the removal of refuse that had accumulated around public spaces. In addition to sweeping and trash collection, volunteers conducted a quick waste-segregation demonstration, showing residents how to separate organics from recyclables at the source to ease downstream processing.
The District Chief Executive addressed the volunteers and residents with words that underscored both the practical and moral dimensions of environmental cleanliness. “Cleanliness is not just a habit; it is a covenant with our health and our future,” Hon. Aka-eri remarked, invoking the traditional adage, “Cleanliness is next to godliness.” He urged the community to sustain the positive attitude demonstrated today and to translate it into everyday practices at homes, markets, schools, and workplaces. He stressed that collective effort—across households, communities, and institutions—would lead to a healthier, safer, and more livable Bolgatanga East.
The National Sanitation Day initiative forms a central pillar of the government’s broader strategy to tackle sanitation challenges nationwide. While the program has been a national priority for several years, its emphasis has consistently been on improving sanitation infrastructure, promoting environmental cleanliness, and fostering a culture of responsibility among citizens. The Bolgatanga East event reflected this national agenda in microcosm, bringing together diverse stakeholders to contribute to a cleaner district and to model best practices for others to follow.
Participants and partners at the Bolgatanga East event demonstrated strong buy-in from a wide spectrum of society. Traditional leaders offered guidance and support, while assembly members and security personnel coordinated logistics and ensured safety throughout the activities. Local market women, youth groups, and residents joined hands to extend the impact beyond the District Assembly grounds, ensuring that cleanup efforts covered nearby streets, market entrances, and communal spaces that often bear the brunt of littering and waste mismanagement. The collaboration served as a visible reminder that sanitation is everybody’s responsibility and that sustained momentum requires ongoing engagement from both public officials and ordinary citizens.
In addition to the physical cleanup, organizers used the day to reinforce educational messages about environmental sanitation. Short, on-the-spot talks explained the public health benefits of proper waste disposal, the importance of keeping drains clear to prevent flooding, and the value of composting and recycling as long-term, low-cost waste-management options. Demonstrations showed residents how to sort waste at home, use locally available materials for simple recycling projects, and participate in community clean-up follow-up activities. To sustain interest beyond National Sanitation Day, organizers announced a series of follow-up clean-up drives, household waste-management tips, and partnerships with local schools to integrate sanitation education into ongoing curricula.
The event also highlighted the practical outcomes of the day’s work. By clearing clogged drains, removing refuse from streets and open areas, and promoting orderly waste disposal, participants helped reduce the immediate health risks associated with unsanitary conditions and lowered the likelihood of flooding during the rains. The coordinated effort showcased how well-planned sanitation campaigns can yield tangible benefits for public health, local commerce, and the overall quality of life in Bolgatanga East.
As the day concluded, Hon. Aka-eri and other leaders thanked everyone who contributed and encouraged continued vigilance. They called on residents to maintain the cleanliness achieved during the drive, to dispose of waste responsibly, and to participate in future sanitation activities and education programs. The district reiterated its commitment to sustaining sanitation gains and integrating sanitation improvements with broader environmental and public health initiatives.
