Gov’t declares two days of national cleaning exercise in flood-hit regions

The government has declared Friday, July 10, and Saturday, July 11, 2026, as National General Cleaning Days in the seven regions affected by recent floods. 

The exercise, organised under the theme “Our Actions, Our Future: Cleaning Ghana after the floods,” is meant to mobilise citizens to clean their communities, secure the environment, and protect lives.

The declaration, made in a statement signed by the Minister of Government Communications Felix Kwakye Ofosu, was released under the auspices of the Post-Flood Mitigation Committee.

President Johnson Dramani Mahama, according to the statement has directed all government appointees, including Ministers of State, CEOs, Members of Parliament, Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Chief Executives, and Heads of Public Institutions, to step out of their offices, pick up tools, and lead the cleanup efforts alongside members of their communities.

The exercise will been organised in two phases. On Friday, July 10, personnel from all security agencies, the Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies, and waste management companies will begin the cleanup. 

On Saturday, July 11, members of the general public will join the security agencies and assemblies to scale up the exercise.

Activities during the two days will focus on desilting choked drains to allow free water flow ahead of the heavy rains, sweeping and clearing sand, weeds, and debris from major roads, streets, and highways, and cleaning up public spaces, including markets, lorry parks, recreational parks, and communal waste collection points.

All Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies have been directed to work with waste management companies to provide logistics, including waste trucks, gloves, shovels, and other tools at designated collection points. 

MMDAs have also been tasked to ensure that all silt and refuse gathered are evacuated immediately to prevent them from washing back into the drains.

The statement said indiscriminate littering and plastic pollution have clogged drainage systems over the years, contributing to floods that destroy livelihoods and claim lives. 

It called on Ghanaians to protect their homes and neighbours and take part in the cleanup under the message “Clean Ghana, Save Lives.”

Richard Aniagyei, ISD