Ayomso: Dr Gustav M Osiakwan, the Bono and Ahafo Regional Director of the Community Water and Sanitation Agency (CWSA), has called on Ghanaians to re-establish hand washing as a routine practice to enhance personal hygiene. This appeal was made during a durbar at Ayomso, a farming community in the Asunafo North Municipality, to commemorate Global Hand Washing Day. According to Ghana News Agency, widely adopted during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, has significantly decreased. He highlighted the importance of maintaining this habit not only to combat the pandemic but also to protect against a wide range of other pathogens. Dr Osiakwan noted that each person's hands could come into contact with up to 10,000 germs, emphasizing the critical role of hand washing in preventing the transmission of infectious diseases. The event, themed "Why are clean hands still important?", addressed the reduced visibility of hand washing facilities, such as veronica buckets, which were common in public places during the pand emic but are now less prevalent. Dr Osiakwan urged the public to prioritize hand and personal hygiene to curb the spread of harmful pathogens. Mr Yaw Osei-Boahen, the Asunafo North Municipal Chief Executive, spoke on the necessity of enhancing Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) facilities to support effective hand washing practices across the country. He acknowledged the CWSA's efforts in integrating technology to improve water management systems, which has led to reduced energy costs and better water production. Also present was Miss Harriet Onita Botchway, a representative from the International Reference Centre (IRC), WASH-Ghana, who reiterated that hand washing with soap is a simple yet effective method to prevent diseases such as diarrhoea, cholera, and respiratory infections. She called on stakeholders to intensify public education on the benefits of hand washing with soap, highlighting its role in protecting not only individuals but also families and communities at large. The event also featured a procession by local school children through the streets of Ayamso, aimed at raising public awareness about the significance of hand washing.