By Opesika Tetteh Puplampu
Ada, Jan. 20, GNA — Mr Jerry John Mordjifa Tanihu Foreigner Mills Nkrumah, District Chief Executive (DCE) for Ada West, has called on residents to adopt positive behavioural changes to support the development and sustainable management of community resources.
Mr Nkrumah said the call formed part of the “resetting agenda” being championed by the administration of President John Dramani Mahama, which sought to address long-standing challenges affecting governance, sanitation, and national productivity.
In an interview with the Ghana News Agency, he noted that certain attitudes among residents continued to undermine community development, particularly in areas such as sanitation, work ethic, and civic responsibility.
According to him, indiscriminate dumping of refuse remained a major concern, with some residents expecting the district assembly to always clean up after them instead of taking responsibility for keeping their surroundings tidy.
“The reset agenda does not mean sacking political figures or declaring war on anyone. It is about confronting issues such as corruption, poor sanitation and attitudes that gradually erode the credibility of our nation,” he explained.
Mr Nkrumah disclosed that during engagements with the President, district leaders were reminded that cleanliness and discipline at the local level were critical to attracting development projects.
He said districts that fail to maintain basic environmental standards risk losing out on development initiatives.
He also expressed concern about poor work attitudes in some workplaces, alleging that certain employees report to work merely to register attendance and leave without performing their duties.
Touching on sanitation contracts, the DCE alleged that some individuals remained on payrolls without working, while others who genuinely worked were poorly treated, adding that such practices informed government decisions to review and, in some cases, terminate existing contracts in the sanitation sector.
He urged residents to embrace behavioural change as the government rolls out reforms, stressing that cleanliness should be a daily habit rather than an occasional activity.
“Every day should be treated as sanitation day,” he said, encouraging residents to take ownership of their environment.
He added that the Ada West District Assembly had intensified waste management initiatives, monthly clean-up exercises, and public education campaigns to improve hygiene practices across communities.
The DCE further warned that residents who consistently refuse to participate in sanitation exercises would face sanctions, regardless of their political affiliations.
GNA
Edited by Laudia Anyorkor Nunoo/Linda Asante Agyei
