Sunyani (B/A), July 6, GNA - Mr Kwadwo Nyamekye-Marfo, Brong Ahafo Regional Minister, on Friday urged the populace in the region to eschew improper sanitation practices and make the maintenance and sustenance of the environment a priority.

This, he said, would make the Region's golden jubilee anniversary celebration a meaningful event with realistic impact on the society instead of just a ceremonial affair.

The Regional Minister was addressing participants at a basic schools tree planting educational campaign, organised under the auspices of the Regional Coordinating Council (RCC) and sponsored by Fan Milk Ghana Limited on the theme: "Changing Attitudes to Sustain our Environment" at Fiapre near Sunyani.

Mr. Nyamekye-Marfo said the RCC remained committed to the national crusade of ensuring environmental best practices. He said poor sanitation practices, particularly defecating at unauthorized places as well as littering haphazardly were not only contributing to ill-health but negatively affecting the growth of the tourist industry, which was retarding the socio-economic progress of the country. The Regional Minister reiterated that the celebration of the region's 50th anniversary was being used as a launch pad to showcase the economic and natural resource potentials of the area, to attract investors, adding that, it would be an opportunity for job-creation for the teeming unemployed youth.

Mr. Akwasi Atuah, National Sales and Marketing Manager of Fan Milk Ghana Limited said the company had been sponsoring sustainable environmental campaign programmes since the last 15 years, and therefore pledged their preparedness to continue with it.

He presented a cheque of GHC 5,000.00 from towards the region's golden jubilee celebration programme.

Nana Kwadwo Nyarko III, Paramount Chief of Prang and Chair of the 50th Anniversary Planning Committee, who received the cheque jointly with the Regional Minister, expressed appreciation to the company and urged other companies to emulate Fan Milk to make the celebration a memorable and eventful one.

He said the creation of Brong Ahafo Region as an autonomous one was not attained on a "silver platter", hence the need to use the period to rethink and help bring improvement in the social and economic lives of the people.

Miss Gifty Acolatse, Headmistress of St. Thomas Junior High School at Fiapre in a welcoming address called for the provision of litter bins to all basic schools in the Region to inculcate in the pupils the habit and attitude of cleanliness and good sanitation practices.