The Ho Municipal Assembly in the Volta region has declared Wednesday, October 1, 2025, as a Special Municipal Clean-Up Day across the communities and institutions within the municipality.

The exercise, scheduled from 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m., formed part of preparations toward the annual Asogli Te Za celebrations and aligns with the Assembly’s “Oxygen City” agenda to promote a clean, green, and healthy environment.

A public announcement issued by the Assembly directed that all shops and commercial centres remain closed during the exercise, with exemptions granted only to pharmacies, fuel stations, chemical shops, porridge sellers, and institutions or individuals undertaking special duties.

Ho Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), Stephen Adom, said the exercise was in line with national efforts to boost sanitation following the launch of the National Sanitation Day by former President John Dramani Mahama.

“We want Ho to stand out as the Oxygen City. A clean environment is not only about beauty but also about protecting the health of our people and visitors,” Mr Adom explained.

He urged residents to take personal responsibility for cleaning their homes and surroundings. “Where no communal point has been announced by your Assembly Member or local leadership, every household must engage in ‘Operation Clean Your Frontage and Backyard,” he stated.

The Assembly outlined focus areas, including sweeping and collecting refuse in public spaces, desilting drains, clearing overgrown weeds, trimming lawns, and planting trees to improve the city’s greenery.

Corporate bodies, public institutions, and civil society groups were directed to dress down and actively participate in the exercise by tidying up their immediate environments.

We cannot achieve this goal without collective effort. Cleanliness must become part of our culture and not just an occasional activity,” he noted.

Volta Regional Minister James Gunu led the exercise alongside the MCE, traditional leaders, security agencies, and community volunteers.

The MCE appealed to residents to sustain the clean-up culture even after the Asogli Te Za festivities. “Keeping Ho clean should not end on October 1. It must be our daily responsibility if we want a healthier municipality.”

Past cleanup exercises in Ho have helped reduce waste accumulation, but authorities say more community ownership is needed to maintain a consistent standard.

The October 1 exercise brought together residents, leaders, and institutions in a collective effort to reaffirm Ho’s reputation as a clean and environmentally conscious municipality.