The Minister for Local Government, Decentralisation and Religious Affairs, Ahmed Ibrahim, has rallied traditional authorities, religious leaders, youth, traders, and the media to support and actively participate in the relaunched National Sanitation Day (NSD).
He described environmental sanitation as a shared responsibility that requires consistent and collective action from individuals, households, communities, and institutions, stressing that the success of the renewed initiative hinges on the active participation of all.
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Hon. Ahmed Ibrahim made the call on Saturday during the official relaunch of the Sanitation Day at the Institute of Local Government Studies in Accra.
The Minister emphasised that the renewal of the programme represents a social contract between government and the citizenry to restore cleanliness, discipline, and dignity in communities nationwide.
The National Sanitation Day, first introduced in 2014 under President Mahama’s leadership, seeks to restore discipline, pride, and cleanliness to Ghana’s public spaces.
It will be observed on the first Saturday of every month across Ghana’s 16 regions and 261 districts. Beyond cleanup exercises, the campaign will also focus on public education, waste segregation, recycling, and stricter enforcement of sanitation bylaws.
To ensure accountability and sustainability, the Minister announced new measures, including a dedicated sanitation hotline for citizens to report unsanitary conditions, a central dashboard to track reports nationwide, and mandatory monthly sanitation reports from all 261 Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies (MMDAs).
“The National Sanitation Day is therefore a clarion call to all Ghanaians — communities, public institutions, the private sector, civil society organisations, and indeed every citizen — to unite in the fight against unsanitary conditions,” he said.
He underscored the crucial role of MMDAs in enforcing sanitation bylaws and providing logistical support, urging them to intensify their efforts. He challenged the youth to lead the charge with their energy and creativity, while commending the media for its role in educating the public and celebrating community efforts.
The Minister expressed gratitude to President John Mahama for his leadership, noting that the President’s presence at the relaunch underscored the importance the government attaches to environmental sanitation, public health, and sustainable development.
“The success of the reintroduced National Sanitation Day hinges on the active participation of all Ghanaians — and I repeat, all Ghanaians. Together, we can build a cleaner, healthier, and more prosperous Ghana,” Hon. Ibrahim declared.