President John Mahama and Vice President Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang are expected to join this weekend’s nationwide clean-up exercise as government intensifies efforts to improve sanitation and mitigate flooding following recent heavy rains.
The exercise, scheduled for Friday, July 10, and Saturday, July 11, 2026, is one of the key interventions recommended by the Post-Flood Mitigation Committee after floods affected several communities across the country.
Greater Accra Regional Minister Linda Ocloo announced on JoyNews’ The Pulse that the President and Vice President will participate alongside Members of Parliament, Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs), traditional leaders and residents.
“Yes, His Excellency the President and the Vice President will be taking part,” she confirmed.
However, Madam Ocloo said the specific locations where the President and Vice President will participate will not be announced in advance, explaining that the move is intended to assess the preparedness of Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies.
“We want to test some of the Assemblies by surprise. The President will visit and know what they have done so far,” she said.
According to the Regional Minister, all key stakeholders have been mobilised for the exercise, with local authorities, traditional leaders, MPs and community members expected to take part in the nationwide campaign.
She disclosed that she will personally monitor activities across several parts of Greater Accra, including the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA), Ayawaso, Okaikwei North, Ayawaso West, Tema and La Nkwantanang.
Branded “Green Heart” in the Greater Accra Region, the exercise will focus on desilting drains, clearing refuse from public spaces and waterways, and improving environmental sanitation ahead of the expected peak of the rainy season.
The initiative has attracted criticism from some observers, who argue that periodic clean-up campaigns alone cannot address Accra’s persistent flooding challenges.
Responding to the concerns, Madam Ocloo maintained that the exercise forms part of a broader government strategy to improve sanitation and strengthen flood prevention measures rather than a one-off intervention.
She stressed that tackling Ghana’s sanitation crisis will require sustained investment, stronger enforcement of environmental regulations and collective action by government, local authorities and residents.
