Ghana Mobilizes Nationwide Clean-Up Exercise as Floods Displace 54,000 and Damage Critical Infrastructure

Ghana has launched a massive two-day nationwide clean-up exercise in response to devastating floods that have displaced over 54,000 people and severely damaged infrastructure across several regions. Initiated by President John Dramani Mahama, the exercise focused on clearing refuse and desilting drains in major urban centers, including Accra, Kumasi, and Cape Coast. In Accra, security personnel from the Ghana Police Service and the Armed Forces joined forces with residents and sanitation workers to tackle heavily affected areas such as the Kwame Nkrumah Circle and the Central Business District. The President, who personally inspected the progress at the Alajo Drains, emphasized that the recent June 29 floods served as a critical call to action, urging Ghanaians to abandon reckless waste disposal habits that exacerbate drainage issues.

Supporting the government's efforts, Zoomlion Ghana Limited deployed over 500 sanitation personnel and heavy-duty equipment, including tipper trucks and waste collection vehicles, to facilitate the evacuation of debris. In the Ashanti Region, security forces in the Kumasi Metropolis enforced participation among traders and residents, ensuring that drainage systems in the Alabar and Central Market areas were cleared. Meanwhile, in Cape Coast, community leaders and volunteers demonstrated a shared civic responsibility by clearing refuse to enhance the city's status as a primary tourist destination. Despite the high participation, many residents expressed disappointment that such mobilization was driven by disaster rather than a proactive, ongoing culture of community responsibility.

The humanitarian impact of the flooding remains severe, particularly in the Volta Region, where 66 communities across 12 districts have been submerged. Beyond the displacement of thousands, critical infrastructure has failed; in the Tempane District, the collapse of the Kongo bridge has isolated entire communities from essential services and healthcare. To alleviate the crisis, the Africa West Area Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints donated humanitarian relief items valued at approximately US$300,000 to the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO). The donation included food supplies, clean water, mattresses, and hygiene products for families in Greater Accra and other hard-hit areas.

Looking toward long-term solutions, President Mahama has announced the institution of a monthly national clean-up day to sustain environmental hygiene. This move has been widely supported by various stakeholders, including Dr. Francis Baah, Deputy Chief Executive of COCOBOD, and the Executive Presbytery of the Assemblies of God, Ghana, who have both called for a permanent shift in the nation's sanitation culture. Regional ministers have further warned that strict enforcement of sanitation laws and the demolition of obstructive structures will follow the exercise. These measures aim to ensure that the current mobilization evolves from a one-off disaster response into a sustainable practice of environmental stewardship across the country.