Accra, Sept. 14, GNA - The National Mobile Phone and Accessories Dealers Association on Monday launched a clean-up exercise to rid Accra and Tema of filth.

The exercise, slated for September 24, is the Association's bid to complement the effort of Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) and the Tema Municipal Assembly (TMA) in trying to maintain clean environment. Speaking at the launch, the Reverend Prince Akwetey Silveira, National President of the Association, said poor sanitation was largely responsible for the upsurge in malaria.

"It's about time we came together to battle malaria as well as to promote good health and national development."

Rev. Akwetey said apart from the cleanup they would also paint old and deserted structures left at the mercy of the weather. He said the AMA's 100-day campaign against filth was laudable yet it could not be sustained and as result entire vicinities, particularly the business district, were once again swallowed by filth. "The reason is that as a people we have an attitude problem and until we resolved it to carve a new image for ourselves the environment will still pose a serious challenge to us."

Mr Gerald Ankrah, General Secretary, Ghana International Broadcasters Association (GIBA), said they would continue to render their unflinching support to promote healthy living lifestyles. He appealed to governmental and non-governmental health organisations to join the wagon to rid the cities of garbage.