Residents of the Bolgatanga East District in the Upper East Region turned out in large numbers on Saturday, November 7, 2026, to participate in the November edition of the National Sanitation Day clean-up exercise, led by the District Coordinating Director, Mr Sylvester N.Y. Kyiieyang.
Mr Kyiieyang led the exercise in the absence of the District Chief Executive (DCE), Mr Jacob Aka-eri Abugre.
The exercise, which commenced as early as 6:00 a.m., saw the streets of Zuarungu, the district capital, come alive as Assembly staff, traders, youth groups, Assembly Members and residents joined forces to sweep streets, desilt choked gutters, clear overgrown weeds and evacuate heaps of refuse.
Mr Kyiieyang, who actively participated in the exercise, was seen holding a broom and shovel while desilting drains and helping to load refuse onto trucks. His active involvement inspired other participants and attracted commendation from onlookers.
Speaking to the media after the exercise, Mr Kyiieyang stated that the absence of the DCE could not serve as an excuse for the district to miss out on the national exercise.“The DCE is unavoidably absent today, but the work must continue. Leadership is by example.
If we want a clean Bolgatanga East, we must all be seen doing the work, not just giving instructions,” he said.He emphasised that sanitation should not be treated as a one-day activity but rather as a daily responsibility.
He further warned that indiscriminate dumping of refuse into drains was a major cause of flooding and sanitation-related diseases, including malaria and cholera.“Today, we have shown what we can achieve when we work together. But let us not wait for the next National Sanitation Day. Every household must keep its surroundings clean every day,” he added.
The clean-up exercise covered several areas, including the road linking the NDC Regional Office to the Bolgatanga-Bawku highway, the District Assembly premises, and communities such as Gambibgo, Kumbosigo and Yarigabisi.
Staff from various departments of the District Assembly, the Environmental Health Unit, market queens, the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), youth associations and students from Zuarungu Senior High School (SHS) also participated in the exercise.Traders took advantage of the exercise to clean their stalls and clear gutters in front of their shops, while residents cleared overgrown weeds and cleaned the surroundings of their homes.
Mr Kyiieyang commended all participants for their impressive turnout and commitment to the exercise. He also announced that the Assembly would intensify routine sanitation monitoring and public education to promote environmental cleanliness across the district.The National Sanitation Day is observed on the first Saturday of every month across the country as part of the government’s efforts to promote environmental cleanliness, improve public health and prevent sanitation-related diseases.
Source:mywordfmonline.com/Emmanuel Kolog