The Sumbrungu Youth and Development Association (SUYDA), in collaboration with assembly members, local chiefs, and the Bolgatanga Municipal Assembly, has organized a large-scale cleanup exercise to improve sanitation in the community.
Speaking to the media during the exercise, SUYDA President Albert Adongo said the association is committed to championing development in all areas, with sanitation as a key priority.
“This is an association that is advocating for development for the Sumbrungu community and its environment. We champion development in all areas, and sanitation is very key to our community,” Adongo said.
“The growth of the community must go with the cleanliness of the community. That is why we mobilized our people to keep the environment clean. Cleanliness is next to godliness. For us to be strong, healthy, and bring more development, the people must be healthy.”
The cleanup targeted refuse in the market, shops, gutters, roads, and homes across Sumbrungu. Mr. Adongo said the exercise marks the beginning of a sustained sanitation campaign.
“We came together as a community to make sure every rubbish in the market, in the stores, in the gutters, on the road, in our houses—we pick all that rubbish away. This is not the end. This is the beginning of cleanliness in Sumbrungu. It is going to be continuous, and we are making efforts to ensure we sustain it so that Sumbrungu will continue to be the cleanest town in the municipality,” he said.
The SUYDA president admitted that while community cleanups have taken place before, this was the first major coordinated effort. He said the turnout demonstrated the need for broader participation in future exercises.
“What we witnessed today has informed us that we need to enhance the measures to ensure we bring everybody on board. That means making sure the information gets to every home and household,” he said.
Mr. Adongo also addressed challenges with some shop owners who opened during the exercise, citing lack of information.
“Some of our brothers and sisters still opened their shops, giving the excuse that they did not get the message. Next time, we are going to make proper announcements, inform everybody, and ensure that every shop is closed until we are done with the cleaning,” he added.
The exercise brought together youth groups, assembly members, traditional leaders, and the Bolgatanga Municipal Chief Executive, signaling a united approach to improving sanitation in Sumbrungu.
Speaking on behalf of assembly members in the Sumbrungu enclave, Elias Ayinbila Apasiya, Assembly Member for the Sumbrungu Azorebisi Electoral Area, said the community considers good sanitation a shared responsibility. He noted that residents are ready to take ownership of keeping the environment clean rather than relying solely on the assembly or government.
Bolgatanga Municipal Chief Executive Roland Ayoo Atanga, who participated in the exercise, expressed appreciation to the leadership and all participants. He called on other communities to organize similar exercises to promote cleanliness across the municipality.
A1 Radio | 101.1 MHz | David Azure | Sumbrungu
