Mahama and Naana Opoku-Agyemang join national clean-up to tackle flooding
President John Mahama and Vice-President Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang will join Ghana's national clean-up exercise as government steps up efforts to reduce flooding and improve sanitation.
President John Dramani Mahama and Vice-President Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang are expected to take part in Ghana's two-day national clean-up exercise as the government intensifies efforts to improve sanitation and reduce the risk of flooding after recent heavy rains.
The exercise, scheduled for today 10 and 11 July, forms part of recommendations by the government's Post-Flood Mitigation Committee following floods that affected several parts of the country.
The Greater Accra Regional Minister Linda Ocloo told JoyNews that the president and vice-president would join Members of Parliament, Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives, traditional leaders and residents in the exercise.
She said the locations where the two leaders would participate would not be announced in advance, explaining that the decision was intended to assess the preparedness of local assemblies.
"We want to test some of the assemblies by surprise. The President will visit and know what they have done so far," she said.
Ms Ocloo said all key stakeholders had been mobilised for the campaign, while she would supervise activities across several parts of the Greater Accra Region, including the Accra Metropolitan Assembly, Ayawaso, Okaikwei North, Tema and La Nkwantanang areas.
Branded "Green Heart" in Greater Accra, the exercise will focus on clearing blocked drains, removing refuse from waterways and public spaces, and improving sanitation ahead of the peak of the rainy season.
The initiative comes as authorities seek to reduce the impact of flooding, which has repeatedly disrupted lives and damaged property in parts of the capital.
However, some critics argue that periodic clean-up campaigns alone will not resolve Accra's long-standing flooding problems, calling instead for improved drainage infrastructure, stronger enforcement of planning regulations and better waste management.
Ms Ocloo rejected suggestions that the exercise was a one-off intervention, saying it formed part of a broader government strategy to improve sanitation and strengthen flood prevention.
She said tackling the country's sanitation challenges would require sustained investment and cooperation between government, local authorities and residents.