Cape coast, Aug 25, GNA- The people of Oguaa on Saturday turned out massively for a clean up exercise in preparation towards next week's "Fetu Afahye" festival of the chiefs and people of the traditional area. The Cape Coast Municipal Assembly (CCMA) and Zoomlion, a private waste management company, jointly organized the exercise, which began as early as 0600 hours and ended at 1200 noon.

Addressing the people who undertook the clean up, Ms Mercy Arhin, Cape Coast Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), said such exercises should be undertaken periodically to rid the municipality of filth, adding that she was impressed with the turn out.

She said CCMA attaches great importance to sanitation and that its sanitary labourers have joined the Zoomlion workforce to effectively clean up the municipality.

She commended those who part in the exercise and Zoomlion for their efforts to promote environmental cleanliness in the municipality as well as the Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU), for conveying people to the various sites of the exercise.

Mrs Rhoda Donkor, Central Regional Supervisor of Zoomlion, said her company has a workforce of 525 scattered all over the 13 districts of the region to help fight the sanitation problem. She said her company's education on the need for good sanitary practices is having an impact on the people. "Most people have stopped throwing rubbish and other waste materials into the gutters". According to her, Zoomlion has assisted the CCMA with two refuse trucks and six containers, 100 shovels, 50 wheelbarrows, and hand-gloves.

Mrs Donkor said the clean up forms part of the company's social responsibility as well as its contribution towards the "Fetu Afahye", adding that the exercise would be replicated quarterly.