Ghana Ministry Rallies Officials for National Clean-Up Ahead of Presidential Exercise

Ghana's Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs convened an emergency meeting with Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) and other officials to finalize preparations for the Presidential National General Cleaning Exercise. The initiative directly responds to recent flooding that impacted Accra and other regions, aiming to enhance environmental sanitation and mitigate future flood risks.

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The countrywide exercise will be held on Friday and Saturday, with the possibility of extending it where necessary.

The nationwide exercise is scheduled for Friday and Saturday, with potential extensions. President John Dramani Mahama is expected to participate. The Minister for Local Government urged all MMDAs to immediately begin community mobilization and planning. He stressed the importance of collaboration with various stakeholders, including Members of Parliament, traditional and religious leaders, security agencies, community organizations, private partners, and the media, to ensure widespread public engagement in this non-partisan national effort.

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He urged the Assemblies to work closely with Environmental Health Officers, Waste Management Departments and other stakeholders to ensure a coordinated and effective clean-up within their jurisdictions.

Logistical support will be provided by Zoomlion Ghana Limited, including refuse trucks, tricycles, and earth-moving equipment. The company will also make transfer stations available for efficient waste disposal. The Minister acknowledged ongoing sanitation challenges, such as inadequate infrastructure, limited landfill capacity, and funding constraints. He affirmed the government's commitment to implementing long-term strategies for improved sanitation management and building more resilient communities, even as the cleanup exercise serves as an immediate intervention.

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The Minister underscored the need for assemblies to ensure the availability of the required logistics, including refuse trucks, tricycles and earth-moving equipment, to support the operation.

The ministry called on all Ghanaians to support the initiative and actively participate in the cleanup, emphasizing it as a collective effort towards cleaner, healthier, and flood-resilient communities.

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The Ministry urged all Ghanaians to support the initiative and actively participate in the nationwide clean-up exercise as part of the collective effort to promote cleaner, healthier and flood-resilient communities.