Alhaji Collins Dauda, the Minister of Local Government and Rural Development on Saturday joined the people of Gbetseli and Tema for a clean-up exercise.

The visit to the two areas, which are under the Kpone Katamanso District and Tema Metropolitan Assemblies were unannounced.

The unannounced visit to the areas was to ensure that the assemblies adhered to the directive of the Ministry to organise people to clean - up their vicinity especially on every National Sanitation Day (NSD).

The NSD day is held every first Saturday of every month and it’s aimed at controlling filth, the indiscriminate dumping of refuse and littering.

It is also aimed at instilling the culture of communal labour and changing the attitude of Ghanaians towards sanitation practices in the country.

Alhaji Dauda was impressed with the organization of the two assemblies and encouraged them to continue with the good work.

He said after one year of touring the country, the Ministry has tasked Regional Ministers to take the responsibility of ensuring the success of the project by tasking Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) to join traditional authorities in their various areas in cleaning their assemblies.

The Minister, who is also the Member of Parliament for Asutifi South, warned that any MMDAs, which fails to organise the NSD in his or her area will be reported to the President for appropriate sanctions.

He said the issue of sanitation is very dear to the heart of President John Dramani Mahama and also important to the welfare of Ghanaians, as it control the outbreak of diseases and promote environmental and public health.

The Greater Accra Regional Minister, Nii Laryea Afotey Agbo thanked the two assemblies for ensuring that their residents participated in the exercise and encouraged them to do more in the coming NSD in December.