Mahama orders two-day nationwide cleanup in flood-hit regions

President John Dramani Mahama has directed a two-day nationwide cleanup exercise across seven flood-hit regions to support post-flood recovery and reduce the risk of further disasters.

The directive was announced in a statement signed by the Minister for Government Communications and Presidential Spokesperson, Felix Kwakye Ofosu, on Monday, July 6.

The statement said the government, under the auspices of the Post-Flood Mitigation Committee, has declared Friday, July 10, and Saturday, July 11, 2026, as National General Cleaning Days in the seven regions affected by the recent floods.

The exercise, themed “Our Actions, Our Future: Cleaning Ghana after the floods,” is intended to mobilise citizens to clean their communities, protect the environment and help prevent additional flooding as the rainy season continues.

“This is a critical, nationwide exercise and all citizens are strongly encouraged to fully participate in it,” the statement said.

President Mahama also directed all government appointees, including Ministers of State, Members of Parliament, Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives, Chief Executive Officers and heads of public institutions, to leave their offices and participate in the cleanup alongside residents.

“The President has accordingly directed that all government appointees must step out of their offices, pick up tools, and lead the cleanup efforts alongside members of their respective communities,” the statement added.

According to the schedule released by the Presidency, personnel from the security agencies, Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies, and waste management companies will begin the exercise on Friday, while the general public will join the operation on Saturday.

The cleanup will focus on desilting choked drains to improve the flow of rainwater, clearing sand, weeds and debris from roads and highways, and cleaning markets, lorry parks, recreational parks and communal waste collection points.

The Presidency described the exercise as “a critical intervention and a vital wake-up call for the nation,” attributing repeated flooding to indiscriminate littering and plastic pollution that have blocked drainage systems over the years.

All Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies have also been directed to work with waste management companies to provide logistics, including waste trucks, gloves and shovels, while ensuring that collected refuse and silt are immediately evacuated.

The announcement comes as Ghana battles devastating floods triggered by record-breaking rainfall that began on June 29, 2026.

The disaster has claimed at least 12 lives and displaced more than 38,800 people, with the Greater Accra, Central and Western regions among the hardest hit.