Kumasi, March 16, GNA - The Deputy Chief Scout Commissioner of the Ghana Scouts Association (GSA) Madam Jemima N. Nartey, has emphasized the need to ensure discipline in order to maintain and promote a clean environment in the country. She said if self-discipline existed it would be difficult for people to litter, pollute and defecate indiscriminately. Madam Nartey said this at a durbar to mark the Africa Scouts Day celebration in Kumasi on Saturday. It was organised by GSA and hosted by its Ashanti Regional branch in collaboration with the National Headquarters. The celebration was under the theme "Our Environment, Our Africa: Scouts Care"

Africa Scouts Day is celebrated on March 13 yearly by all scout Associations in Africa including Ghana. Madam Nartey said on March 13, 1961, Scouts leaders from member state of the then Organisation of Africa Unity (OAU) held their maiden meeting in Nigeria and in their deliberations discussed how the Association's voice could be head. She said at the 62nd ordinary session of the Council of Ministers of the then OAU, (currently African Union) in Addis Ababa in 1995, a resolution was passed that Scouting in Africa must be recognized and as such the 13 day of March every year was endorsed for the celebration of Africa Scout Day. Madam Nartey who is also a member of the Africa Scout Committee, later presented Scouts Uniforms on behalf of the Committee to twenty women of GSA.

Mr Isaac Newton Addy, GSA Chief Commissioner advised the members to comport themselves wherever they found themselves and that they should be careful 'not to soil the image of the association'. He entreated them to sensitized their communities on the need to protect the environment and desist from acts that could cause the outbreak of diseases, especially diarrhea and cholera, with the rainy season around the corner. Madam Eunice Osei, Ashanti Regional Environmental Protection Agency Officer said the level of awareness on environmental degradation is very low, adding that since awareness creation can not be done by government alone, it was important that every person to changed his or her attitude towards the environment.

She advised the public to always ensure environmental cleanliness and also stop degradation of the surrounding since it contribute greatly to the development of humanity. Nana Oboadum Kusi Antwi II, Chief of Wawase, a suburb of Kumasi who chaired the programme, urged residents of Kumasi to practice hygiene to prolong their life span.