Ghana’s National Sanitation Day is set to resume on May 3, 2025, as part of efforts to tackle the country’s sanitation challenges.
The Ministry of Local Government, Sanitation, Chieftaincy, and Religious Affairs, led by Minister Ahmed Ibrahim, has expressed concern over widespread filth affecting both land and sea.
According to Minister Ibrahim, the National Sanitation Day will take place on the first Saturday of every month, from morning until 10:00am, during which period all shops will be closed to ensure compliance.
Speaking during a courtesy call on Christian bodies on Tuesday, April 15, 2025, he emphasized the need for collective effort to combat poor sanitation.
“As a country, we are suffering from poor sanitation, and we must fight it through a collective effort because it’s a shared responsibility,” he said.
The Minister called on the churches to use their platform to raise awareness and encourage participation.
In response, the Christian community has pledged its support for the President’s vision to instill a culture of cleanliness in citizens.
The Chairman of the Christian Council of Ghana, Rev. Dr. Hilliard Dela Dogbe assured the Minister of the Council’s cooperation, stating, “We want to assure you that we will do our best. It’s not just a responsibility, it’s an obligation.”
The Presbyterian Church of Ghana Moderator, Rev. Dr. Abraham Nana Opare Kwakye also urged all members to participate in the sanitation exercise, saying, “I charge all Presbyterians to join and make sure National Sanitation Day transforms our society.”
The Seventh-day Adventist Church President, Pastor Thomas Techie Okran however suggested that members of his church will observe the sanitation exercise on Sunday, May 4, as the government’s date coincides with their Saturday church service, a move that was applauded by the Minister.
The National Sanitation Day was first introduced in 2014 in response to the cholera outbreak and aims to engage residents in a monthly clean-up exercise to reduce unsanitary conditions and prevent disease outbreaks.
