The Wa Municipal Chief Executive, Alhaji Issahaku Tahiru Moomin has called on the people of the municipality to be wary of cerebrospinal meningitis (CSM) and take precautionary measures against contracting the disease in this season.
He described the disease as deadly and urged the people to be careful and mindful so as not to contract it.
Mr Moomin made the call during the parade of the Municipal edition of the 67th Independence Day Celebration at Charia in the Wa Municipality.
"I wish to urge our citizens to be wary of the devastating impact of CSM [cerebro-spinal meningitis]," he said.
He indicated that the disease affects every part of the region unlike before, when it used to be prevalent in areas stretching across Nadowli, Lawra, Jirapa, and Nandom, referred to as the meningitis belt.
He noted that four people had already been killed by the disease and therefore, impressed upon the people to adhere to precautionary advice in order to stay healthy.
"Let us sleep in well-ventilated rooms, avoid overcrowded places, drink more water and eat nutritious meals to stay healthy as a healthy people are a healthy nation," he admonished.
The theme for this year's Independence Day Celebration is "Our Democracy, Our Pride."
Commenting on the theme, Mr Moomen Yussif, the Upper West Free Senior High School (FSHS) Coordinator, in an interview with Info Radio at the parade grounds, called for unity among the Ghanaian people as the country heads to the polls later this year.
He said the country's independence and democracy have been sustained over the years due to the high tolerance rate among the people which he said should be upheld.
Mr Yussif intimated that the 2024 general elections should be the most peaceful election ever witnessed in the country, especially because two northern brothers [Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia and Former President John Mahama] were leading the two major political parties into the elections.
He urged for decorum and the avoidance of politics of insults during the electioneering and campaigning periods.
Present at the event were the Municipal Coordinating Director, Pogna Fati Koray; Municipal Education Director, Sophia Dumah; some heads of security agencies and government institutions, political parties, workers unions, and significant others.
The march past was participated by 32 schools including Primary, Junior High, and Senior High Schools as well as cadet corps from Bomandi Preparatory and participating Senior High Schools.
In the end, Wa Islamic Senior High School was adjudged the overall best school in the Senior High School category with Jamiat Al-Hidaya Girls and T.I Ahmadiyya Senior High Schools coming second and third respectively.
In the Cadet category, T.I Ahmadiyya Senior High School came first followed by Wa Senior High and Wa Technical Institute respectively.
For the Junior High School (JHS) category, Charia R/C JHS C, Ancilla JHS and ASWAJ Islamic JHS were adjudged first, second and third respectively.
For the Primary School category, Charia R/C Primary A came first with Gbegruu M/A Primary and Bomandi Preparatory following respectively.