Ashanti Regional Minister John Alexander Ackon has called on the citizenry to support metropolitan, municipal and district assemblies in the implementation of by-laws that will help improve sanitation in the country.

Mr Ackon, who joined residents to clean major drains in the Kumasi metropolis in the 17th edition of the National Sanitation Day exercise, also encouraged the general public to help the various assemblies solve sanitation problems in their areas.

He told Class News’ Ashanti regional correspondent Hafiz Tijani: “By-laws are for the metropolis and the assemblies, but the importance is the enforcement of the by-laws. But let me make this one very clear – if the citizenry will support the KMA Chief Executive, by-laws will be very applicable. But when you want to apply and people have different ideas as to the application, then it creates a problem.

“We want to carry everybody along, so, when there are by-laws, be part of the solution. Therefore, if people defy [the laws], let’s support KMA to take action on the by-laws. They need the support of the citizens to employ and apply the by-laws.”

The National Sanitation Day is observed every first Saturday of every month.