The Minister for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, Ahmed Ibrahim on Saturday, January 3 joined chiefs and residents of Sunyani to observe the first National Sanitation Day of 2026.

The event brought together security agencies, traditional authorities, market women, traders, residents, and members of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) to clean up the Bono Regional capital, aimed at restoring Sunyani’s reputation as one of Ghana’s cleanest cities.

The exercise began at 7 a.m., covering the Sunyani business district, principal streets, markets, the Municipal Police Station, Twene Amanfo Senior High School, the VRA/NEDCo office, and the Estate Road leading to Akyereko Memorial Hospital.

Old posters, banners, and signage were removed, road medians were cleared of filth and sand, choked gutters were flushed, and the streets were thoroughly swept as part of the cleanup.

Speaking to the media after the exercise, Mr Ibrahim expressed his satisfaction with the turnout.

“This is exactly what is expected of us, and if we continue like this, Sunyani will once again become the cleanest city in Ghana,” he said.

He emphasised that the beauty of a city depends not only on its infrastructure but also on the active participation of residents in maintaining cleanliness.

“When you enter the city, the ambience should reflect a beautiful and well-kept environment,” he added.

Mr Ibrahim also encouraged the Municipal Assembly to plant trees in buffer zones to restore the city’s greenery.

Mr Rashid Ahmed, the National Sanitation Ambassador, urged the youth to actively participate in sanitation efforts, stressing that “a clean environment is essential for public health.”

Source: GNA