President John Mahama has encouraged Ghanaians to eat and live healthy lives in order to avoid lifestyle diseases, which are now on the increase.

Speaking after completing a 15km Republic Day walk organised by the Elwak Keep Fit Club on Saturday, the President urged participants not to make the walk a once-in-a-year activity but make an effort to exercise regularly to keep themselves healthy.

The 15km walk started from the Elwak Stadium, through the Olusegun Obasanjo highway, through Pigfarm, Accra Newtown, Nima, Maamobi, and back to the Obasanjo highway near Accra Girls Secondary School.

It ended at the Elwak Stadium in two hours thirty-eight minutes, an improvement on the two hours fifty-two minutes clocked last year.

This is the fourth time Mr. Mahama has joined the Elwak Keep Fit Club in their annual Republic Day walk.