President John Dramani Mahama on Friday joined the nationwide clean-up exercise in parts of the Accra Metropolis, where he applauded Ghanaians for responding positively to the government’s call to help restore communities affected by the recent floods.
The President visited several locations to participate in the exercise, reaffirming his administration’s commitment to improving environmental sanitation and encouraging citizens to take greater responsibility for keeping their surroundings clean.
Addressing participants, President Mahama stressed that poor waste disposal practices remain a major contributor to flooding across the country.
“I want to use this opportunity to thank all who have come out to help. Clearly, we can see what the cause of our problems is. Look at the plastic and the sand.
“Let us make sure that after we take all the silt out, we bring enough capacity to transport this to the appropriate place. Let me congratulate all Ghanaians. The turnout has been very good. This will be a continuous exercise,” he said.
The clean-up forms part of a two-day national sanitation campaign declared by the government through the Post-Flood Mitigation Committee following the devastating floods that recently affected seven regions.
Held under the theme, “Our Actions, Our Future: Cleaning Ghana after the floods,” the initiative seeks to mobilise citizens, public institutions and security agencies to clear drains, remove waste and improve sanitation in flood-prone communities.
Announcing the exercise earlier this week, Minister for Government Communications Felix Kwakye Ofosu described the campaign as a national responsibility and urged all Ghanaians to actively participate.
President Mahama also directed all government appointees—including ministers, chief executive officers, Members of Parliament, Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs), as well as heads of public institutions—to leave their offices and join residents in the clean-up effort.
Friday’s exercise was led by personnel from the security services, Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs), and waste management companies, while members of the public are expected to join on Saturday to expand the operation nationwide.
Activities during the campaign include desilting clogged drains to improve water flow, sweeping roads and highways, removing sand, weeds and debris, and cleaning markets, lorry parks, recreational grounds and other public spaces.
Government officials say the initiative is aimed not only at addressing the immediate impact of the floods but also at promoting long-term behavioural change, warning that indiscriminate dumping of refuse and plastic waste continues to block drainage systems and increase the risk of destructive floods across the country.
