President John Mahama has announced the reintroduction of National Sanitation Day as a fully enforced, legally supported initiative aimed at tackling the country’s deepening sanitation crisis.
During a stop in Dodowa on Friday as part of his Thank You Tour of the Greater Accra Region, Mr Mahama said the monthly clean-up exercise, previously seen as largely symbolic, would now become a robust and mandatory national operation.
“Now that most of our DCEs have been nominated and confirmed, we will begin observing the National Sanitation Day programme every month,” the President said. “This time, it will not be a symbolic event. It will be legally backed, properly funded, and operationalised through partnerships with local assemblies and private sector service providers.”
Under the revamped programme, Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) will be held accountable for its successful implementation in their jurisdictions. Mr. Mahama reiterated that sanitation would serve as a key performance indicator for all local government heads, warning that failure to deliver could lead to dismissal.
“Cleanliness will become one of the key performance indicators for measuring the performance of MMDCEs and will determine whether they will remain in office or are removed,” he stressed.
Highlighting the capital’s symbolic importance, the President added, “Greater Accra, as the face of Ghana, must be clean, green and dignified.”
In a further move to tighten enforcement, Mr Mahama announced that existing laws requiring households to maintain clean surroundings, including the sweeping of frontages and clearing of drains, would now be strictly applied. Residents who fail to comply will face sanctions, he warned.
The President’s remarks come amid mounting concern over recurring flooding and deteriorating environmental conditions in Accra and other urban centres.
The renewed sanitation drive is expected to be integrated with broader flood prevention and climate resilience efforts, as the government attempts to address both the root causes and consequences of poor urban planning and waste management.
Source:TheDotNews