The government has declared National General Cleaning Days for Friday, July 10, and Saturday, July 11, as part of a nationwide effort to restore communities hit by recent flooding and reduce the risk of further disasters.
The exercise, which will be carried out in the seven regions affected by the floods, is being coordinated under the Post Flood Mitigation Committee and will run under the theme, "Our Actions, Our Future: Cleaning Ghana after the floods."
Officials say the initiative is intended to go beyond a routine sanitation campaign. It is being presented as an urgent response to the environmental conditions that have repeatedly worsened flooding across the country.
President Directs Officials to Lead by Example
President John Dramani Mahama has instructed government appointees to leave their offices and participate directly in the cleanup exercise.
Ministers, Members of Parliament, Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives, chief executive officers of public institutions and other government officials have been directed to work alongside residents in their respective communities.
According to a statement signed by the Minister for Government Communications and Presidential Spokesperson, Felix Kwakye Ofosu, "all government appointees... must step out of their offices, pick up tools, and lead the cleanup efforts alongside members of their respective communities."
Two Day Exercise Targets Choked Drains
The cleanup will begin on Friday with personnel from the security services, Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies, and waste management companies taking the lead.
On Saturday, the exercise will expand as members of the public join the operation.
Priority will be given to desilting blocked drains, clearing debris from roads and highways, and cleaning public spaces such as markets, lorry parks, recreational areas and communal waste collection points.
Authorities have directed local assemblies to work closely with waste management companies to provide trucks, gloves, shovels and other equipment needed for the exercise.
They have also been instructed to remove collected waste immediately to prevent it from being washed back into drainage channels.
Call for Lasting Change
The government described the exercise as more than a response to recent floods, calling it "a vital wake-up call for the nation."
The statement blamed indiscriminate littering and plastic pollution for blocking drainage systems and contributing to destructive floods that continue to threaten lives and livelihoods.
"Let us rise together and show that the Ghanaian spirit of community, discipline, and unity is alive and well. Protect your home, protect your neighbour, and let us clean our beloved homeland. Clean Ghana, Save Lives," the statement urged.
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