Paramount Chief of the Komenda Traditional Area in the Central Region, Okatakyi Komeh VIII, has led charge in a massive clean-up exercise aimed at improving sanitation and rekindling the spirit of communal labour among residents of his paramountcy.

The exercise, which brought together youth groups, market women, assembly members, and other traditional leaders, focused on desilting choked gutters, clearing refuse dumps, and sweeping principal streets of Komenda, forms part of a broader initiated effort to address growing sanitation challenges and prevent disease outbreaks.

Speaking in an address to Sompa TV's Eric Annan, the chief stressed the importance of maintaining a clean environment, noting that communal labour was once a strong cultural practice that ensured orderliness and public health in communities.

“Our environment reflects who we are. Reviving communal labour is not just about cleanliness—it is about restoring discipline, unity, and responsibility among our people,” he stated.

Okatakyi Komeh VIII expressed concern over declining participation in communal activities, attributing it to changing lifestyles and a growing dependence on government-led sanitation interventions.

He therefore urged residents to take personal responsibility for their surroundings rather than relying solely on authorities.

The chief also called on the Komenda-Edina-Eguafo-Abrem (KEEA) Municipal Assembly to intensify public education and provide logistical support such as waste containers and sanitation equipment to sustain the initiative.

Residents who took part in the exercise commended the chief’s leadership, describing the move as timely and necessary. Many pledged to support future communal labour efforts to maintain cleanliness in the area, having had health officials consistently warned that poor sanitation remains a major contributor to diseases such as cholera and malaria. Thus, reinforcing the need for regular clean-up exercises.

Sompaonline.com//Eric Annan