Tema, Feb. 15, GNA - Nii Osonga Adjei Kraku, the II, Tema Mantse on Saturday appealed to people living along the coastal areas to endeavour to keep the beaches clean at all times in order to promote good hygiene and

attract tourists to generate revenue for the state. He said filth at the beaches send wrong impression about the country and called for periodic cleaning exercises. Nii Osonga Kraku gave the advice after leading the fishermen and fishmongers from Sakomono Village, near Tema in a four-hour clean-up exercise at the stretch of Sakomono beach on the Accra-Tema road. They were joined by workers of Zoomlion Company Limited who promised to participate in every exercise undertaken by the Mantse. The Mantse pledged to declare holidays for communal labour starting from the beaches of Tema, Dansoman and Axim, Afloa and Sekondi and embark on educational drive on the programme.

To prevent indiscriminate defecation and littering along the beaches, Nii Osonga Kraku suggested establishing sanitary facilities in the villages along the coast that should be managed by the fisher folks. He later inaugurated the "Friends of the Sea, Beaches and Inland Water" a non governmental organisation which would be responsible for ensuring cleanliness along the coast and also organise seminars for the fisher folks. Nii Kwashie Otubua, Chief fisherman expressed gratitude to the Tema Mantse, pledging to continue with the cleaning exercise at the beaches to attract visitors. 15 Feb. 09