Waste management expert Zoomlion Ghana Limited has initiated an emergency clean-up exercise to rid most communities especially in the Greater Accra region of filth.

The two weeks exercise has become necessary in the wake of the recent floods that hit some parts of Accra.

The first phase of the exercise which is being carried out in partnership with the Accra Metropolitan Assembly, commenced on Tuesday  February 11, at the Ayawaso West and Okaikoi sub-metros.

Other sub-metros expected to benefit from the exercise include Ashiedu Keteke, Ablekuma South, Ayawaso West, Ablekuma North, Ayawaso Central, Okaikoi South, Osu Klottey and Ablekuma central.

In an interview with the acting Accra Zonal Head of Zoomlion Mr. Daniel Martey, he explained that most gutters within the metropolis are choked as a result of indiscriminate disposal of refuse.

He mentioned that the exercise is aimed at creating awareness on the importance to practice proper sanitation habits in order to avoid preventable diseases and their resultant toll on the finances of individual families in the communities and the country at large.

“We are encouraging all Ghanaians to keep their environments clean. If you don’t keep your environments clean, you are killing yourself because sickness and diseases can easily spread”, Mr. Martey stressed.

He explained that specific locations within all sub-metros will be visited in the first week of the exercise and continue to other spots within these sub-metros in the subsequent week adding that, there are pockets of refuse at different locations that need to be cleared.

David Mensah, a Monitoring and Evaluation officer at Zoomlion advocated attitudinal change towards sanitation in the country.

He explained that Zoomlion as a waste management company, continues to do its best by providing the necessary human, resource and logistics for waste management however, a greater part of the business depends on Ghanaians.

“We need to change our attitudes to ensure that collectively we can fight this menace of filth in our country” he intimated.

At the Ayawaso west Constituency, the Assembly woman for the West Legon Electoral Area,

Victoria Esenam Ansah Ofei called for increased stakeholder collaboration in tackling waste management and sanitation in the various communities.