Gov't declares two national clean-up days in flood-hit regions
The government has declared 10 and 11 July as national clean-up days in seven flood-affected regions, ordering public officials to lead sanitation exercises aimed at reducing the risk of further flooding ahead of forecast heavy rainfall.
The government has declared 10 and 11 July as national clean-up days in seven flood-affected regions, ordering public officials to lead sanitation exercises aimed at reducing the risk of further flooding ahead of forecast heavy rainfall.
The directive forms part of measures announced by the Post-Flood Mitigation Committee following recent floods that claimed lives and caused widespread destruction in parts of the country.
In a statement issued on Monday, the Presidency said the nationwide exercise would be held under the theme "Our Actions, Our Future: Cleaning Ghana after the Floods."
The government has directed all ministers, members of parliament, chief executives of state institutions, metropolitan, municipal and district chief executives, and other government appointees to leave their offices and participate in the exercise alongside residents in their respective communities.
The clean-up will be conducted in two phases.
On Friday, 10 July, personnel from the security services, metropolitan, municipal and district assemblies, and waste management companies will begin clearing drains and public spaces. The following day, members of the public will join the exercise.
According to the Presidency, the operation will focus on desilting choked drains, clearing sand, weeds and debris from major roads, and cleaning markets, lorry parks, recreational areas and communal waste collection sites.
The statement said blocked drainage systems, worsened by indiscriminate dumping of refuse and plastic waste, had contributed significantly to recent flooding.
Metropolitan, municipal and district assemblies have been instructed to work with waste management companies to provide refuse trucks and cleaning equipment, including gloves, shovels and other tools. They have also been directed to ensure that all collected waste and silt are removed immediately to prevent them from being washed back into drains.
The government is urging residents in the affected regions to take part in the exercise, describing it as a collective effort to improve sanitation and minimise the impact of further heavy rains.
The announcement follows devastating floods in parts of southern Ghana, particularly Accra, which left several people dead, displaced thousands of residents and damaged homes, businesses and public infrastructure.
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