President John Dramani Mahama has directed Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) across flood-affected regions to lead a nationwide sanitation exercise aimed at restoring communities and preventing further flooding.
The directive forms part of government’s post-flood recovery measures following the devastating floods that affected several parts of the country.
In a statement issued on Monday, July 6, by the Minister for Government Communications and Presidential Spokesperson, Felix Kwakye Ofosu, the Presidency announced Friday, July 10, and Saturday, July 11, 2026, as National General Cleaning Days in seven flood-affected regions.
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The exercise, which is being organised under the supervision of the Post-Flood Mitigation Committee, is themed: “Our Actions, Our Future: Cleaning Ghana after the floods.”
According to the Presidency, the initiative is designed to mobilise citizens, restore sanitation standards and reduce the risk of future flooding caused by blocked drainage systems and poor waste management practices.
President Mahama has instructed all MMDAs to work closely with security agencies, waste management companies and residents to ensure the success of the exercise.
The assemblies have also been directed to provide essential logistics, including waste trucks, gloves, shovels and other cleaning equipment at designated collection points.
The government further emphasised that waste collected during the exercise must be evacuated immediately to prevent refuse and silt from returning into drainage channels during rainfall.
Personnel from security agencies, MMDAs and waste management companies will lead activities on Friday, July 10, while members of the public will join the nationwide cleanup on Saturday, July 11.
The exercise will focus on desilting blocked drains, removing sand and debris from roads and highways, clearing weeds, and cleaning public areas including markets, transport terminals, recreational facilities and communal waste sites.
The Presidency described the initiative as a major intervention and a national wake-up call, highlighting the role of indiscriminate dumping and plastic pollution in worsening flood situations across the country.
The move follows heavy rainfall that began on June 29, 2026, causing severe flooding in parts of southern Ghana.
The disaster affected thousands of residents, with Greater Accra, Central and Western Regions among the worst-hit areas. Government figures indicate that the floods claimed lives and displaced more than 38,000 people.
Authorities say the cleanup exercise is a crucial step toward restoring affected communities while building stronger resilience against future environmental disasters.