The Seventh-day Adventist (SDA) Church has joined the nationwide clean-up exercise initiated by President John Dramani Mahama, with members across the country participating in activities aimed at improving environmental sanitation and reducing the risk of flooding.
At the Hanson Road Seventh-day Adventist Church in the Ashiedu Keteke Municipality of Accra, pastors, church members, students, and staff took part in desilting drains, clearing waste, and cleaning the surrounding environment as part of the exercise.
The President of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, Southwest Ghana Union Conference, Pastor Kwakye Adeefe, said the Church responded to the national call because environmental cleanliness reflects both civic responsibility and Christian values.
“We are doing this to ensure that we keep our environment clean because we believe that cleanliness is next to godliness. Environmental cleanliness is something we take seriously,” he stated.
Pastor Adeefe called on relevant authorities to make community clean-up exercises a regular practice and encouraged citizens to take personal responsibility for maintaining clean surroundings rather than waiting solely for government interventions.
He urged residents to contribute in their own ways towards building cleaner communities, emphasizing that collective efforts would promote healthier living conditions for all.
The District Pastor of the Hanson Road Seventh-day Adventist Church, Pastor Samuel Emmanuel Thompson, explained that the Church has consistently undertaken sanitation exercises as part of its community service and Christian mission.
He said the Church’s participation was not only in response to the government initiative but also part of its regular commitment to environmental protection.
“We do not do this only because government has called for it. We carry out these exercises regularly whenever we notice that our surroundings need attention. We also want our students to appreciate the importance of sanitation so they can grow up to live healthy lives,” he said.
Pastor Thompson further appealed for the national clean-up exercise to be sustained as a continuous programme rather than being treated as a one-time activity.
The General Manager of Advent Press, Pastor Dr. Kingsley Osei, described the initiative as a positive step towards improving sanitation across the country and reaffirmed the institution’s commitment to supporting environmental cleanliness.
He noted that Advent Press has maintained a monthly sanitation exercise on the last Sunday of every month and welcomed the opportunity to join the nationwide campaign.
“The government’s initiative is very commendable. We have always been committed to keeping our environment clean, so when this call was made, we gladly joined to contribute to a cleaner nation,” he said.
Pastor Dr. Osei also appealed to authorities to rehabilitate a damaged drainage system located in front of the Advent Press premises, noting that the situation affects proper water flow and contributes to flooding concerns in the area.
The SDA Church’s participation adds to growing efforts by religious institutions, communities, and other stakeholders to promote improved sanitation practices and strengthen public awareness on environmental responsibility.
