President John Dramani Mahama has urged Ghanaians to commit to sanitation and community clean-up exercises at least once every month as part of efforts to keep the capital clean and prevent flooding.
Speaking when he joined residents and officials for a clean-up exercise at Tse-Addo on Friday, July 10, during activities marking National Sanitation Day, the President said the initiative would become a continuous national exercise aimed at desilting choked drains and improving environmental sanitation.
“So, this will be a continuous exercise. At least once a month, let us set aside one day for all of us to come out and clean the city. And with the help of the waste management company, we will be able to keep this city clean and free of flood,” he told the press.
Mr. Mahama expressed appreciation to residents and volunteers who participated in the exercise across the country, describing the turnout as encouraging.
“I want to use this opportunity to thank all the residents who have come out to help this exercise. Clearly, we can see what our problem is,” he said.
“I have gone round the city, I have seen the turnout has been very good. After this, the military and other services are going to dredge the main waterway so that these drains can have an outlet,” he added.
The President said the planned dredging of major waterways by the military and other security services would complement the ongoing desilting of drains and help improve the flow of storm water during heavy rains.
He was joined at the exercise by the Greater Accra Regional Minister, Linda Akweley Ocloo, the Minister for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, Ahmed Ibrahim, the Municipal Chief Executive for the area, and other government officials.
The National Sanitation Day exercise forms part of broader government efforts to improve waste management, clear blocked drains and strengthen flood prevention measures following recent flooding incidents in parts of the country.
