"Two days not enough" – President Mahama proposes monthly clean-up as flood response continues

Ghanaian President John Dramani Mahama has proposed establishing a monthly nationwide clean-up exercise, citing the inadequacy of the current two-day initiative to tackle the country's extensive sanitation issues and reduce flood risks. The President made these remarks in Alajo, Accra, after participating in and inspecting the commencement of the latest two-day national clean-up.

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Two days are not enough to finish this work, but we are going to institute it so that at least one day every month all of us should come out and clean our surroundings.

Mahama emphasized that the proposed monthly exercise aims to foster a sense of communal responsibility for maintaining clean environments, a value he believes has been eroded by urbanization. "Two days are not enough to finish this work, but we are going to institute it so that at least one day every month all of us should come out and clean our surroundings," he stated. He urged citizens to cease using drains as dumping grounds, warning that such practices exacerbate flooding.

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The drains are not garbage instruments. If you want to dispose of something, you know how to dispose of it.

In addition to the clean-up efforts, the government is intensifying measures to address flooding and drainage problems, particularly in Accra. The Minister of Finance has allocated GH¢150 million to support flood mitigation projects, including the dredging of streams and other drainage works. The government also intends to procure specialized equipment, such as backhoes, to aid in clearing drains and managing the removed silt. Mahama cautioned that the effectiveness of these efforts hinges on the proper disposal of waste collected from the drains.

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I'm also asking the Minister of Finance; he's already released 150 million to help with flood mitigation, that is, the dredging of the streams and all that.