Fellow countrymen and women, we have witnessed severe incidence of cholera in our country, which resulted in a needless death of some of our compatriots. The annual cycle of cholera outbreaks is linked to insanitary conditions and unacceptable socio-cultural habits, coupled with an infrastructure deficit. These deaths are indeed painful and unacceptable.

Sanitation is a public good and its impact affects everybody irrespective of one’s ethnic, political, religious or geographical background. What this means is that it is our collective responsibility as Ghanaians to take the needed measures to ensure that we live in a clean, safe and healthy environment.

On our part, Government is investing heavily in infrastructural projects such as drainage, water supply and health care facilities across the country. In addition to the various public education campaigns aimed at changing our behavior and attitude towards proper sanitation and cleanliness, government has decided to declare the first Saturday of every month a National Sanitation Day.

The 1st of November 2014 is therefore a significant milestone as it is the first Saturday of November and marks the inception of Ghana’s National Sanitation Day. On this day, starting from this Saturday, it is expected that we will all, as Ghanaians, step out in our numbers, mobilise ourselves to clean our communities and neighborhoods for a clean and secure living.

I thank all those who worked tirelessly, especially the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development, our traditional leaders, development

partners, religious leaders and the media to make this National Sanitation Day possible.

Let me urge all political leaders, opinion leaders, especially traditional authorities, religious leaders, personnel from the security services, workers, students and other recognized bodies to mobilize their members to lend support to the National Sanitation Day by coming out in your numbers to participate fully in this maiden activity, and on the first Saturday of every month.

We need to work together, as one unified community of people to ensure the sustainable cleaning of our environs and help make Ghana cleaner and safer.

God Bless Us All.