Ho, Sept. 8, GNA- Kpeduhoe, a community in the Akatsi District, won the 2003 Volta Regional Cleanest Community Award, during the regional launch of the National Sanitation Week, at Ho.

The community was awarded a trophy, two wheelbarrows, pickaxes, shovels, rakes and a bicycle for the Community Environmental Officer. Havene in the Keta District and Laiti-Wote in the Hohoe District, won the second and third places respectively and were each given a certificate and the same set of sanitation equipment and a bicycle. The contest was instituted by the Regional Coordinating Council, in July 2001, with sponsorship from the Regional Office of the Community Water and Sanitation Agency (CWSA).

In a speech read on his behalf, Mr Kwasi Owusu-Yeboa, the Regional Minister, asked District Chief Executives (DCEs) to motivate the communities to participate in the contest since it had raised awareness on sanitation issues.

Mr Owusu-Yeboa observed that population growth and the increasing size of human settlements were putting a strain on national environmental management.

Mr Albert Kpodonu, Regional Environmental Officer, implored the DCEs to provide environmental officers with the needed equipment to work effectively.

Mr Jerry Ziddah, the Akatsi District Environmental Officer, said the awards represented a recognition of the work of officers who were on the ground educating people on environmental issues.

The sidelight, was a Certificate of Recognition, awarded the CWSA, for sponsoring the contest for the past three years.