Scores of Assembly Guards in the Ledzorkuku Constituency in Accra Saturday morning moved around to ensure shops remained closed for the much publicised national clean-up exercise.

The guards insisted that the residents adhere to a directive for all shops to remain closed until after 12:00 noon by which time the maiden National Sanitation Day aimed at riddng the country of filth, would be over.

Myjoyonline.com however observed a half-hearted response to the exercise that saw citizens across the country cleaning their various societies.

While a few residents took to cleaning their surroundings, others were not bothered.

Some said they were unaware about the exercise but were willing to take part in the next edition, after they were told that the exercise is now the first Saturday of every month.

However, in other parts of the country although some residents closed their businesses, they folded arms and watched others do the cleaning.

At popular slum, Nima, Vice-President Amissah-Arthur inspected work being done in desilting choked gutters.

Chiefs and opinion leaders in Nima, rather famous for its poor sanitation, actively participated in the clean-up exercise although same could not be said of ordinary residents.

Assemblyman for Nima West, Alhaji Umar Sanda Mohammed, expressed frustration at the non-involvement of market women in the clean up exercise.

Alhaji Sanda who was having a discussion with some chiefs, said it was disappointing that despite the pleas of the chiefs, Imams and other opinion leaders the attitude of the traders was least encouraging.

He was also concerned about the unavailability of tools with which to properly execute the task of cleaning the streets.

The assemblyman expressed his optimism that the next clean-up exercise next month will be an improvement on Today’s.

[Additional reporting by Malik Abass Daabu; editing by George Nyavor]