The John Mahama-led government, under the auspices of the Post-Flood Mitigation Committee, has declared Friday, July 10 and Saturday, July 11 as National General Cleaning Days in the seven regions affected by the recent floods.
Under the theme ‘Our Actions, Our Future: Cleaning Ghana after the floods’, the two-day national exercise seeks to mobilise the collective duty of citizens to clean their communities, secure the environment, and safeguard lives across the country.
A statement from the Presidency described it as a critical, nationwide exercise, with all citizens strongly encouraged to fully participate.
President John Dramani Mahama has accordingly directed that all government appointees, including Ministers of State, CEOs, Members of Parliament, Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs), and Heads of Public Institutions, step out of their offices, pick up tools, and lead the cleanup efforts alongside members of their respective communities.
To ensure a structured and highly coordinated exercise, the first day on Friday, July 10 will see personnel from all security agencies, the Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies (MMDAs), and waste management companies engage in the cleanup.
Saturday, July 11 will see the general public join the security agencies and assemblies to scale up the exercise.
During the two-day exercise, efforts will be heavily focused on desilting choked drains to ensure free, uninterrupted water flow ahead of the heavy rains; sweeping and clearing sand, weeds, and debris from major roads, streets, and highways; and cleaning up public spaces, including markets, lorry parks, recreational parks, and communal waste collection points.
The statement described the exercise as a critical intervention and a vital wake-up call for the nation, noting that indiscriminate littering and plastic pollution have for far too long clogged the country’s drainage systems, contributing to devastating, preventable floods that destroy livelihoods and claim precious Ghanaian lives.
All MMDAs have been directed to collaborate with waste management companies to provide adequate logistics, including waste trucks, gloves, shovels, and other cleaning tools at designated collection points.
Assemblies have also been tasked to ensure that all silt and gathered refuse are evacuated immediately to prevent them from washing back into the drains.
The statement, signed by Felix Kwakye Ofosu, Spokesperson to the President and Minister for Government Communications, urged Ghanaians to rise together and show that the spirit of community, discipline, and unity is alive and well.