Alhaji Collins Dauda, Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, has appealed to chiefs and traditional Authorities to prioritise the National Sanitation Day (NSD) campaign instituted by government.

He also called on educational authorities to encourage the participation of students in the monthly exercise.

Alhaji Dauda said this after a clean-up exercise was held to mark the NSD at Tepa in the Ahafo Ano North District of the Ashanti Region.

The NSD, instituted by the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development under the directive of President John Dramani Mahama, is observed every first Saturday of the month and it is aimed at reviving and instilling the spirit of communal labour in the citizenry.

It is also to control the indiscriminate littering and dumping of refuse, control the outbreak of diseases and promote public and environmental health in the country.

Alhaji Dauda said the sustenance of the programme lies on the shoulders of chief and traditional rulers as they have control over their subordinates than the politicians.He expressed happiness with the enthusiasm shown by participants of the exercise and urged them to maintain the spirit.

He called for greater stakeholder participation in the sanitation sector and charged Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies to take responsibilities of the organisation of the exercise.

Nana Adusei Atwenewaa Ampem I, Omanhene of Tepa Traditional Area, said chiefs are agents of development and sanitation is one of the priorities of every country’s development.

He said the mobilisation and participation of the people of Tepa is an indication of the sustenance of the exercise in the District.

Nana Ampem I urged Government to empower traditional rulers to ensure the success of the exercise nationwide.

Mr Alexander John Ackon, the Ashanti Regional Minister, expressed satisfaction with the participation and pledged the Region's commitment to maintain the sanitation standards in the country.

In an interview with the GNA, Mr Kofi Sekyere Boateng, Regional Manager of Zoomlion, said his outfit in collaboration with MMDA’s has put in place appropriate measures to control littering in the community. He said the distribution of waste bins to MMDA’s and households was underway in some regions and called for greater cooperation among stakeholders.