Takoradi, March 25 - GNA - The two-day cleanup exercise organised by the Shama Ahanta East the Metropolitan Assembly (SAEMA) to improve sanitation received massive response by the people throughout the Metropolis.

On Friday thousands of pupils, students and staff of the various first and second cycles schools and tertiary institutions undertook the exercise to sweep the streets and markets, de-silt choked gutters, culverts and storm drains.

Personnel of both public and private organisations were also involved in the cleanup of their offices and immediate surroundings. On Saturday the exercise started at 0630 hours throughout the Metropolis and when the GNA went round some suburbs of Sekondi and Takoradi there were thousands of enthusiastic people both young and the elderly engaged in the cleanup of their environment. They include traders, fishermen and fishmongers, drivers, hawkers, storekeepers and artisans who were banned from undertaking any activity until the close of the exercise at noon to ensure its success. Also involved in the cleanup were personnel of the various security agencies.

At the Takoradi Market Circle and Sekondi Market, hundreds of people happily engaged in the exercise were full of praise for SAEMA for organising the exercise, which would portray the beauty of the "Twin City" to tourists who are expected to flock the area to observe the solar eclipse on March 29.

Maame Esi Quansimah and Dorcas Ewura Morgan said the exercise should be a regular affair to get rid of filth and mosquitoes in the metropolis. Egya Abaka Pratt said in future enough tools and protective clothes should be supplied by SAEMA to ensure that as many people as possible take part in the exercise.

More than 850 million cedis was being spent on the two-day exercise to get rid of filth in many parts of the metropolis.