President John Mahama has announced the revival of the National Sanitation Day program as a fully enforced, legally supported initiative to address Ghana’s sanitation issues. During his Thank You Tour in Dodowa on Friday, May 16, President Mahama stated that the monthly nationwide initiative would be transformed from a symbolic gesture into a structured and well-funded operation.
“Now that most of our District Chief Executives (DCEs) have been nominated and confirmed, we will begin observing the National Sanitation Day program every month,” he explained. “This time, it will not be merely symbolic. It will be legally backed, properly funded, and implemented through partnerships with local assemblies and private sector service providers.”
He stated that the success of the renewed programme would depend heavily on Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs), who are now mandated to ensure its effective implementation in their respective districts. The President also reiterated that cleanliness would be a key performance indicator for assessing MMDCEs, and failure to deliver could lead to their removal from office.
“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,” President Mahama said. Highlighting Greater Accra’s role as the symbolic heart of the nation, he added, “Greater Accra, as the face of Ghana, must be clean, green and dignified.”
In a major shift toward accountability, President Mahama also announced that the law requiring every household to keep their frontage and surrounding drains clean will be strictly enforced. He noted that residents who fail to comply will face appropriate sanctions. The revamped sanitation initiative comes amid rising concern over persistent flooding and worsening environmental health, particularly in Accra.
By: Prince Adu-Owusu