
Dennis Obeng Agyei desilting gutters during the clean-up exercise

The Assembly Member of Oda Nkwanta Electoral Area in the Birim Central Municipality of the Eastern Region, Dennis Obeng Agyei, has stressed the need to tame the country’s unsavoury sanitation challenges, by rallying the public to help them take active part in making environmental cleanliness a daily affair.
He made the call when he spearheaded a successful clean-up exercise over the weekend in a bid to address the issue of choked gutters, and improve the overall cleanliness of the area.

In an interview with the Daily Statesman, Mr Obeng Agyei explained that the initiative, which aimed to tackle the prevalent issue of blocked gutters, saw community members, volunteers, and local authorities come together to take part in the cleaning exercise.
The Assembly Member said the clean-up exercise commenced in the early hours of the morning, with participants provided with shovels, brooms, and gloves pouring out sweat to sanitise the environment.
“This rep your party clean-up exercise brought onboard NDC and NPP members. They worked tirelessly to remove debris, trash, and other waste materials that were obstructing the flow of water in the gutters. The effort was focused on major thoroughfares, residential areas, and public spaces within Akyem Oda,” he stated.
Clean-up campaign
He revealed that local residents and business owners showed that level of support by joining the clean-up campaign. According to him, the participation of various stakeholders reflected a strong sense of community spirit and a shared commitment to improving the living conditions of the area.
Mr Obeng Agyei emphasized the significance of maintaining clean gutters as a means of preventing flooding and the spread of waterborne diseases. He also touched on the importance of regular maintenance and responsible waste disposal practices.
Additionally, the Assembly Member expressed his gratitude to the participants for their dedication and encouraged everyone to continue their efforts in keeping the area clean beyond the event.
“Our goal is to create a conducive environment for all residents of Akyem Oda. We must be united on development and the clean-up exercise is just one step towards achieving this objective. We need to work together as a community to ensure that our gutters remain unblocked, allowing for proper drainage and minimizing the risk of flooding, especially in the rainy season,” he indicated

He noted that the successful clean-up exercise should serve as a reminder of the importance of community engagement and environmental stewardship.

Collaborative efforts
The Assembly Member also encouraged residents and stakeholders to remain committed to the cause of environmental cleanliness. He, therefore, called for collective support, acknowledging that the government could not do it alone.
“This is where I wish to call on all of us, especially our chiefs and queen mothers, religious and opinion leaders, civil society organisations, private sector operators to rise up to the challenge and help make a difference this time around. And with the combined efforts of the community members, and volunteers like Awal Mohammen Husein, NDC communication officer of Asene Akroso Manso, Nicholas Morkah-Journalist, Kwabena Ofori-Journalist, Kwame Gyan-Student, Kwame Asare-COCOBOD, I will continue to take significant strides towards ensuring a cleaner and more hygienic living environment for all,” he stated.
Assuring constituents of an abiding campaign on sanitation, he stated that the campaign is not going to be a nine-day wonder.
“It will run over the entire period of my mandate as Assembly Member, I will ensure that Akyem Oda is clean. I remain committed to this and I am determined to ensure that the job is done,” he assured.
