The Chiefs and people of Jirapa, Lawra, Nandom and Lambussie-Karni Districts in the Upper West Region have been commended for coming out in their numbers to participate in the National Sanitation Day (NSD) exercise.

Mr Emmanuel Kwadwo Agyekum, a Deputy Minister of Local Government and Rural Development gave the commendation when he joined the people together with the Deputy Regional Minister; Dr Musheibu Mohammed Alfa and other top officials to observe the exercise in the four districts.

He urged the people not to let the enthusiasm be a one off thing but something they should continue every month in order to keep their surroundings free from filth.

Mr Agyekum said Ghana is among the last 10 filthy countries in the world, hence the institution of the national sanitation project with the objective of lifting Ghana out of its current status.

He urged the people not to litter the environment haphazardly, but rather cultivate the culture of good environmental sanitation practices to ensure all time cleanliness.

The Deputy Local Government Minister presented 20 waste bins each to Jirapa Saint Francis Girls Senior High School (SHS) and Jirapa SHS to help the schools to better manage their waste.

Upper West was the eighth region to observe the NSD on the list of the regional series of the exercise by the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development.