Saturdays To Be Compulsory Clean Up Days

The Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development is initiating plans to make the first Saturday of every month a compulsory clean-up day beginning November. The move is part of plans to rid the country of filth and reduce the spread of diseases such as cholera and typhoid fever. According to the Local Government Minister, Mr Julius Debrah, if implemented, the annual occurrence of cholera will become a thing of the past, adding that, if he failed, he would humbly resign. By the last count, more than 10,000 people had contracted cholera, with more than 100 reported dead. In an interview on Joy FM, the Minister said the new exercise is being modelled on a Lagos concept and said various traditional and religious leaders are being consulted to see how the concept could be replicated in Ghana. �We had wanted to start in October but we realised that we need to properly do consultations. If we are able to sell this concept and everybody embraces it� [and] we get the proper understanding and appeal to the hearts and minds of Ghanaians, everybody will voluntarily want to cooperate�we cannot afford to lose innocent lives due to our inactions,� he said. Resignation According to Mr Debrah, should he fail to take pragmatic steps to rid the country of filth, he would humbly resign. He said, �If a year from now I�m not able to lead and implement situations that will bring tremendous, maximum change, I will not need anybody to tell me to resign.� He said although the issue at stake involved attitudinal change, he would do his best nonetheless. �Honestly, as a person who�s got a dignity and reputation to protect, if I notice that all my strategies I have introduced, let�s say a year from now is not yielding any results, then I can honourably say to his excellency that Sir, I think I�m not doing what I�m supposed to do,� he said.