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The national sanitation day exercise is not a political activity, Mr. Kwasi Oppong-Ababio, Sunyani Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) has emphasized.

Mr. Oppong-Ababio said this in an interview with the Ghana |News Agency (GNA) on Saturday, in Sunyani, after the fourth national sanitation day exercise in the Municipality.

He said if it were a political activity, Mr. Julius Debrah, Minister of Local Government and Rural Development would not have instituted the day in memory of former Vice President Alhaji Aliu Mahama of blessed memory, who was a member of the New Patriotic Party (NPP).

The MCE appealed to residents in the Municipality to put aside politics and participate effectively to achieve the ultimate objective of ridding the cities, towns and villages of filth to promote good health and well-being of the populace.

Meanwhile, the response of the people towards the exercise in the Municipality was seemingly encouraging as compared to the previous ones.

This was because the personnel of the security services including the Army, Police, Fire Service and the Ghana Immigration Service, members of Civil Society Organisations and keep fit clubs as well as the Ghana Scout Association and members of some religious organizations like the Jehovah Witness Movement (JWM) participated actively.

A military officer from Three (3) Garrison in Sunyani, who pleaded anonymity, admitted that “the exercise went on well but its challenge is somehow low civilian participation”, saying that, “if the drivers in the Municipality had taken part in their numbers, it would have been much better”.

Master Charles Ayipah, President of Sunyani Polytechnic Tertiary Education Institution Network (TEIN) of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) lauded the exercise, saying it would help in safeguarding the health and welfare of the citizens.

He however called on Ghanaians to help sustain the exercise by participating regularly.

Mr. Yaw Frimpong, a member of the JWM described it as a worthy cause because it promoted cleanliness and ensures good and quality health.