Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) of Bolgatanga Municipality, in the Upper East Region, Joseph Amiyuure Atura, has entreated people in the region to take the on-going disinfection and disinfestation exercise in the markets and other public places serious.
“It is a good exercise which will help destroy any agent harbouring the coronavirus, especially in our public places—markets, lorry terminals and public toilets—which will help make our markets safe,” he stated.
Mr Amiyuure Atura made the call when he launched the second phase of the national disinfection, fumigation and cleaning exercise in markets, lorry stations, public toilets and other public places at the Main Bolga Lorry Terminal, Bolga, in the region on Saturday.
The exercise — an initiative of the central government through the ministry of local government and rural development (MLGRD), in partnership with Zoomlion Ghana Limited – is aimed at containing the spread of the new coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
According to the MCE, apart from the disinfection dealing with the virus, the exercise will also take care of rodents, mosquitoes, rats among other insects which have made the markets their safe havens, wreaking all kinds of damage.
He disclosed that a total of nine (9) main markets were being disinfected by Zoomlion in his municipality in addition to other mini markets in the satellite communities.
“And apart from the markets, the exercise will also cover various lorry terminals/stations, public toilets, slaughter houses in the municipality,” he added.
In this regard, Mr Amiyuure Atura commended President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo for his “keen interest” in protecting the people of Bolgatanga and Ghanaians as a whole against the COVID-19 pandemic,” he said.
The Upper East Region, he said, has so far been “lucky,” following the region’s low case count of COVID-19.
He attributed that to the fact that people in the region had taken the COVID-19 safety measures very seriously and were adhering to them.
He, therefore, seized the opportunity to commend the military and police for deploying their personnel to ensure that residents in the region practice the COVID-19 safety protocols.
The exercise began as early as 4:00 a.m., with Zoomlion deploying boom atomisers, spraying gangs and drones to the markets for the operation. The first port of call was the Bolga Main Lorry Terminal which space was thoroughly disinfected and fumigated.
From the Bolga Lorry Terminal, the disinfection crew went to the Ayia Market (Old Market), New Market, Yam Market, Slaughter House and carried out same exercise.
Later after the exercise, the Upper East Regional Manager, Zoomlion Ghana Limited, John Sackey, addressing journalists revealed that his company had deployed 280 spraying teams in addition with atomisers, drones, foggers and Knapsack sprayers across the region for the operation.
“After the disinfection and dis-infestation, we will carry out a clean-up exercise in the markets which will see also see us clean and desilt the drains, public toilets and do deratting in rodents-infested markets,” he noted.
However, the Zoomlion regional manager called on residents in the region to continue to practice the COVID-19 safety measures outlined by the health professionals.
The exercise is expected to be completed on Sunday (July 26, 2020) with a huge clean-up operation in the markets.
