ADA WEST DISTRICT ASSEMBLY LEADS NATIONAL CLEAN-UP EXERCISE IN SEGE
The Ada West District Assembly, in collaboration with stakeholders and community members, successfully conducted a clean-up exercise on Saturday, October 4, 2025, in Sege, as part of the national clean-up initiative aimed at promoting environmental cleanliness and sustainable waste management.
The National Clean-up exercise is in compliance of the directives of the Minister of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs in relation to the President of Ghana’s commitment to improving environmental cleanliness and promoting sustainable waste management in the country.
The exercise, led by the District Chief Executive, Hon. Modjifa Tanihu J.J.F Nkrumah-Mills and supported by staff of the assembly, Assembly members, traditional authorities, and community members, focused on desilting main drains, sweeping, and collecting refuse in Sege township. Approximately 100 tons of waste were collected, with participation from 50 assembly staff, 250 community members. The exercise received incredible support from governmental institutions, including the Ada Senior High School, Ghana National Fire Service, Ghana Police Service, and National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO).
Despite the huge patronage and success of the exercise, some challenges were encountered, including:
- Mixed waste making collection difficult (waste not segregated)
- Inadequate working tools and limited Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
- Breakdown of the skip truck
- Limited refuse containers in the district
- Refusal of some community members to partake in the exercise
- Stealing of tools and assault on some of the environmental health officers.
The District Environmental Health Officer (DEHO), Ms. Millicent Ohui MacCarthy suggested that these challenges, can be addressed by increasing sensitization on proper waste disposal, enforcement of bye-laws during clean-up exercises, provision of adequate tools and containers, prosecution of recalcitrant residents and adoption of a community-led approach for the next exercise.
She also believes that management can liaise with chiefs and opinion leaders to identify refuse transfer stations before sending them to final disposal sites districtwide.
The exercise was coordinated and supervised by the staff of the Environmental Health. They also serve notices to nineteen (19) residents who refused to participate in the communal labour.
The clean-up exercise was a success, improving the cleanliness of Sege and raising awareness on environmental sustainability. The assembly acknowledges the support of all stakeholders and looks forward to organizing more initiatives to promote a cleaner, healthier environment.
ISD, AWDA
4th October 2025