The President of the Greater Accra Regional House of Chiefs and Paramount Chief of Nungua, Nii Odaifio Welentsi III, has pledged the full and unwavering support of traditional authorities in the region towards the successful implementation of the reintroduced National Sanitation Day (NSD), scheduled for launch and oberservance in May.
The commitment was made during a courtesy call by the Minister for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, Hon. Ahmed Ibrahim, accompanied by his Deputy, Hon. Rita Naa Odoley Sowah, as part of a nationwide stakeholder engagement drive aimed at building consensus and rallying support for the national sanitation agenda.
In his remarks, Hon. Ahmed Ibrahim highlighted the devastating consequences of environmental degradation, attributing it largely to indiscriminate waste disposal and a general disregard for hygiene. He cited growing concerns about the loss of agricultural productivity and the pollution of Ghana’s marine resources.
“Our farmers can no longer produce as they used to because our lands are choked with plastic waste. Our fishermen now haul more bottles and plastics than fish. The situation is dire, and the solution must begin with a new mindset, a new culture, and new habits centered around cleanliness and responsibility,” he stated.
Nii Odaifio Welentsi III, in a strong show of endorsement, expressed the firm commitment of the Regional House of Chiefs to champion the cause of environmental cleanliness across the Ga-Dangme traditional areas.
“In my capacity as President of the Greater Accra Regional House of Chiefs, I will ensure that this important message is carried to every traditional area within the Ga-Dangme lands. Sanitation is not the responsibility of government alone. It is a shared responsibility, and as traditional leaders, we must lead this charge from the front,” he affirmed.
The Regional House of Chiefs pledged to utilise its traditional authority to raise awareness, mobilise communities, and actively participate in clean-up campaigns. The President also stressed the need to transition the National Sanitation Day from a periodic exercise into a sustained, community-led movement that fosters a culture of cleanliness, civic pride, and national responsibility.
“We owe it to ourselves and to future generations to ensure a clean and healthy Ghana,” he declared.
The engagement forms part of the Ministry’s broader strategy to secure high-level buy-in from traditional and religious institutions as the country prepares to launch the revitalised National Sanitation Day as a transformative tool for public health, environmental protection, and national consciousness.
Source: Matilda Tettey/Sandra Owusu Asamoah
(Public Relations Unit MLGDRD)