The Government of Ghana has announced a two-day nationwide sanitation exercise in seven flood-hit regions, declaring Friday, July 10, and Saturday, July 11, 2026, as national general cleaning days to reduce the risk of further flooding before the next round of expected heavy rains.
The initiative is one of the key interventions approved by the Post-Flood Mitigation Committee following the recent floods that affected several parts of the country. It is aimed at improving environmental sanitation while clearing blocked drains and waterways to enhance the free flow of rainwater.
The announcement was made in a statement issued on Monday, July 6, 2026, by the Presidency Communications and signed by the Spokesperson to the President and Minister of Government Communications, Felix Kwakye Ofosu.
Held under the theme, “Our Actions, Our Future: Cleaning Ghana after the Floods,” the exercise is expected to rally residents across the affected regions to clean their communities and help prevent future flooding. The Presidency has appealed to all Ghanaians to actively participate.
As part of the exercise, President John Dramani Mahama has directed all government appointees to take part on the ground. Ministers, Chief Executive Officers, Members of Parliament, Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives, as well as heads of public institutions, have been instructed to leave their offices and lead cleanup activities within their respective communities.
The operation will be carried out in two stages. Security agencies, Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies, together with waste management companies, will begin the cleanup on Friday, July 10. The following day, Saturday, July 11, members of the public will join the security agencies and local assemblies to continue the exercise.
Activities will focus on desilting blocked drains to restore the free movement of water before the rains intensify. Volunteers and officials will also sweep major roads, remove sand, weeds and debris, and clean public spaces including markets, lorry parks, recreational parks and communal waste collection points.
According to the statement, the exercise has become necessary because widespread littering and the improper disposal of plastic waste have clogged drainage systems across many communities, worsening flooding that has resulted in loss of lives and extensive property damage.
To support the operation, all Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies have been instructed to work closely with waste management companies to provide essential equipment, including refuse trucks, gloves, shovels and other cleaning tools at designated collection centres. The assemblies have also been directed to ensure that all silt and collected waste are removed immediately to prevent them from being washed back into the drains.
Kwakye Ofosu urged citizens to embrace the exercise as a collective national responsibility.
“Let us rise together and show that the Ghanaian spirit of community, discipline, and unity is alive and well. Protect your home, protect your neighbour, and let us clean our beloved homeland,” the statement said under the slogan, “Clean Ghana, Save Lives.”
Read the statement below.
