A nationwide two-day general clean-up exercise is underway across seven flood-affected regions as part of government efforts to improve sanitation, clear clogged drains and reduce the risk of future flooding following the devastating June 29 floods.
The exercise, being organised under the auspices of the Post-Flood Mitigation Committee, will run in two phases. Personnel from the security services, Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) and waste management companies are leading Friday’s operations, while members of the public are expected to join in on Saturday.
Response to June 29 floods
The National General Cleaning Days were declared after the June 29 floods, which severely affected parts of the country, particularly the Greater Accra Region. The disaster claimed at least 13 lives, displaced thousands of residents, damaged homes, businesses and public infrastructure and exposed longstanding challenges relating to drainage, waste management and environmental sanitation.
President John Dramani Mahama has directed all government appointees, including Ministers of State, Members of Parliament, Chief Executive Officers of state institutions, Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives and heads of public institutions, to leave their offices and lead clean-up activities in their respective communities. Held under the theme “Our Actions, Our Future: Cleaning Ghana after the floods,” the exercise is intended to mobilise citizens to clean their communities, protect the environment and help prevent future flooding.
Focus on drains and public spaces
Activities will include desilting choked drains to improve the flow of stormwater, clearing sand, weeds and debris from roads and highways and cleaning markets, lorry parks, recreational areas and communal waste collection points. To support the exercise, all MMDAs have been directed to work with waste management companies to provide logistics, including refuse trucks, gloves, shovels and other cleaning equipment.
They have also been instructed to ensure the prompt evacuation of collected refuse and silt to prevent waste from being washed back into drains.
Markets and shops to suspend operations
Speaking to journalists on Thursday, July 9, the Deputy Presidential Spokesperson, Shamima Muslim, said the exercise forms part of broader government efforts to build resilience against future disasters.
She clarified that markets, shops and stalls are expected to suspend operations during the clean-up period to allow sanitation activities to take place.
“Tomorrow is not a holiday. We are all coming to work tomorrow and we are all going to engage in the cleanup activity exercises at our workplace,” she said.
Shamima explained that market activities, particularly in flood-affected areas, will be suspended between 6:00 a.m. and 12:00 noon, after which businesses may resume operations depending on progress made by local authorities.
Regions covered
The exercise will be carried out in the Greater Accra, Volta, Central, Western, Western North, Ashanti and Eastern regions.Government has urged residents, businesses and institutions to participate actively, stressing that improved sanitation and responsible waste disposal are essential to reducing flood risks and protecting lives and property.
