The Nurture Nature Foundation (NNF), a non-governmental organisation (NGO), has called for collective action to establish the Clean Ghana First Campaign as an enduring way of life for both citizens and corporations.
The Executive Director of NNF, Peter Asiedu, made the call during the annual Founders’ Day event at Omandjor in Accra. The Assembly Member of Omandjor in the Trobu Electoral Area, Ellis Nii Addo, organised a street cleanup exercise to mark the occasion.
Addressing the participants, Mr. Peter Asiedu emphasized the urgent need for Ghanaians to prioritize cleanliness in their daily lives, transforming the nation’s reputation on the global stage.
As a country with a majority of Christians, he highlighted the irony of wallowing in unsanitary environments while holding the belief that “cleanliness is next to Godliness”.
“Today, we stand united to ensure that Ghana’s cleanliness is no longer a matter of lip service but a reality recognized and appreciated worldwide,” he said.
Mr Asiedu urged all citizens to use the Founders’ Day as an opportunity to engage in communal labour, cleaning up their communities and adopting sustainable practices to beautify their homes and business environments.
Key pillars
He said one of the key pillars of the Clean Ghana First campaign is the promotion of landscaping for community beautification. Additionally, he stressed the importance of desilting drains and proper debris disposal as essential steps in maintaining a clean environment.
Mr. Asiedu emphasised the significance of waste segregation at its source, citing that it not only improves waste management but also creates value from the waste collection process. He noted that this approach can lead to a more sustainable and efficient waste management system for the country.
The Executive Director of NNF called for increased sensitization and education within communities to foster behavioral changes that promote cleanliness. He believes that instilling a sense of responsibility and pride in maintaining clean surroundings will have a lasting impact on all aspects of Ghanaians’ lives.
Mr. Asiedu also shared inspiring examples from other countries, such as Rwanda in Africa and Japan in Asia, where cleanliness has been embraced as a way of life. In these countries, he stated that cleanliness is so deeply ingrained that even gutters are adorned with golden fishes and marine creatures, attracting tourists from around the world.
He further urged Ghanaians to consider dirt as a crime against their own environment and future. He encouraged citizens to embrace the vision of a clean and thriving Ghana, where all residents take pride in keeping their surroundings pristine and welcoming.
He mentioned that the GA North Municipal Assembly supported the clean-up exercise by providing wheel barrows, shovels and pickaxes as working tools, as well as a bin truck for the evacuation of waste collection.
The Assembly Member thanked the participants and appealed to the community folks to show great care of their immediate dwelling places and emphasized the need for more regular cleanup exercises in the community for a clean environment.