Nii Lantey Vandapuye, a Deputy Minister of Local Government and Rural Development (LGRD), has reiterated the involvement of traditional leaders in the implementation of national policies and programmes.

He said the Local Government Ministry was, therefore, counting on them for the mobilisation of the populace to achieve massive success not only in the national sanitation exercise but the implementation of all other programmes for national development.

Mr Vandapuye said this on Friday at Kukuom in the Asunafo South District of Brong-Ahafo Region at the beginning of a one-week sensitisation tour concerning the up-coming 10th national sanitation day exercise scheduled for September 5.

Mr Vandapuye, who was addressing a meeting with the Kukuom Traditional Council, explained that the effective involvement of traditional leaders in the national sanitation exercise would ensure the success of the programme.

For the success of the exercise, Brong-Ahafo has been zoned into three where Mr. Vandapuye is leading a team of selected media personnel from the region to tour “Zone B”.

The areas are Asunafo South, Asutifi North, Asutifi South, Tano North, Tano South, Dormaa East and Dormaa West districts, as well as Asunafo North, Dormaa Central and Berekum municipalities.

Alhaji Collins Dauda, the Minister of LGRD, and Mr Eric Opoku, the Brong Ahafo Regional Minister, accompanied by the media, are touring the “Zone A” while Mr Emmanuel Kwadwo Agyekum, another Deputy Minister of LGRD, is touring the “Zone C”.

Mr Vandapuye said the tour was at the instance of President John Dramani Mahama because of his policy of “taking governance to the doorsteps of the people”.

He said good sanitation practices and environmental cleanliness was paramount to national development and appealed to traditional leaders to collaborate with the Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies to enact and effectively implement bye-laws to promote and sustain the sanitation exercise.

Mr Vandapuye, as part of the tour, also met the Sankore Traditional Council in Asunafo South and proceeded to meet the Traditional Councils of Akrodie, Ayomso, Goaso and Mim, in the Asunafo North Municipality to appeal for their assistance in mobilising the people to participate in the exercise.

The chiefs and elders in all the six councils, responding to the Deputy Minister’s appeal, admitted the need for all Ghanaians to partake in the exercise with dedication and commitment because of its significance in promoting and achieving quality national health and accelerated development.

Nana Kwasi Bosompra, Paramount Chief of Goaso, Nana Baafour Awuah II, Kyidomhene of Mim, Nana Obeng Ackah, Gyaasehene of Ayomso, Nana Owusu Akyiaw, Akyempimhene of Akrodie, Okofo Tabiri Gyansah IV, Krontihene of Sankore and Okokoodurufoo Boakye Dankwa, Nifahene of Kukuom, assured the Minister of leading their people to participate in the exercise.