With the stakes high, key leaders have issued strong warnings and called for immediate action in a concerted effort to uphold Sunyani’s reputation as the cleanest city in the region.
Nana Akosua Dua Asor Sika Brayie II, the Manhemaa (Queen Mother) of Sunyani, and Mr. Samuel Kofi Adagbodzo, the Sunyani Municipal Planning Officer, have both voiced their concerns and plans to ensure the city maintains its prestigious accolade.
At the Local Learning and Policy Hearing Forum, organized by the Resilient City For Adolescents Project in Sunyani, Nana Akosua Dua Asor Sika Brayie II expressed her determination to maintain Sunyani’s cleanliness. She highlighted the town’s achievement of being recognized as the cleanest city in Ghana and emphasized that this honour should not be taken lightly.
She warned that failure to maintain cleanliness could lead to the loss of this prestigious title and the outbreak of infectious diseases. “If the Municipal Assembly, through the environment and sanitation departments, does not want to instil discipline in the town, then we, the traditional authorities, will take it upon ourselves to do so,” she declared.
The Queen Mother’s passionate statement underscores the traditional leadership’s commitment to upholding the town’s high standards.
Residents have shown unwavering support for her stance, with many actively participating in clean-up campaigns and reporting instances of improper waste disposal. They acknowledge the vital role of traditional authorities in maintaining Sunyani’s identity and cleanliness.
In addition to this call, Mr Samuel Kofi Adagbodzo warned households about improper waste disposal practices during a panel discussion at the Resilient Cities for Adolescents program.
He cautioned that misuse of refuse bins, such as disposing of human waste or other inappropriate materials, could lead to the termination of waste collection services.
The program, jointly organized by the Global Media Foundation (GLoMeF) and supported by various NGOs, aims to improve the lives of adolescents in Sunyani and address emerging challenges in the municipality.
Mr Adagbodzo emphasized the Sunyani Municipal Assembly’s dedication to sanitation, mentioning the procurement and distribution of numerous refuse containers and waste bins to households and the acquisition of new sanitation trucks.
He stressed the importance of proper waste management: “Sanitation and proper waste management are shared responsibilities.”
Stakeholders, including representatives from the Ghana Education Service (GES), Ghana Health Service (GHS), Department of Gender, National Youth Authority (NYA), and various civil society organizations, have expressed concern about the persistent heaps of refuse in some areas of the municipality.
They have joined the call for residents to take ownership and contribute to keeping the environment clean and preventing the outbreak of infectious diseases.
As Sunyani grapples with the challenge of preserving its hard-earned recognition, the combined efforts of traditional authorities and municipal officials serve as a rallying cry for the entire community to unite and work towards a shared goal: maintaining Sunyani as the cleanest city in Ghana.
