The Ministry of Sanitation and Water Resources in collaboration with the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA)  and other municipal assemblies in the Greater Accra and Ashanti regions have commenced a three- day massive clean up exercise. 

The cleanup exercise which is being supported by members of the Environmental Service Providers Association led by Zoomlion Ghana Limited was to ensure effective cleaning and cleansing of the cities under lockdown.

Addressing officers from the Ghana Armed Forces, Prison Service and the street clearing officers at the Accra City Hall before the commencement of the exercise on Friday in Accra Sanitation Minister, Cecilia Dapaah, said the initiative was to help eradicate the scourge of the deadly coronavirus and keep the city clean. 

She entreated traders,  street hawkers as well as residents in the city to be responsible and desist from littering the streets adding that such acts of discipline would not be tolerated after the exercise. 

"The assemblies are devising strategies to ensure that the streets are kept clean. We are asking you not to litter, if you do, the full rigorous of the law will be applied. We are encouraging people to work feed their families but will not tolerate traders and residents leaving dirt on the streets.  We all know that’s what we are doing involves a lot of money so we do not want to clean and desilt the gutters for people to fill them with garbage. If you have a drain in front of your home and we find out it’s full of garbage, you will be charged, " she said. 

"We are also entreating that all of us resting at home to exercise by weeding,  sweeping, desilting drains and make we leave in a healthy environment, " she added. 

The minister urged all households to own a bin and desist from dumping refuse on the ground. 

" We encourage all households to own a bin, we do not want to see people gathering their rubbish on the ground for others to come and pick them, it is not good. Always gets a bin, put in the waste in it. The bins are not sold, they are supplied, " she said.

Minister for Finance and Economic Planning,  Ken Ofori-Atta, assured that his ministry would continue to provide the needed resources to keep the economy moving.

He also appealed to Ghanaians to desist from littering and indiscriminate dumping of refuse adding that " if you don't drop it we wouldn't have to pick it." 

Metropolitan Chief Executive (MCE) of Accra, Mohammed Adjei Sowah cautioned residents to be responsible when they come back from the lockdown and desist from littering the streets since the law would be enforced to the latter. 

He disclosed that the exercise would focus on the desilting of gutters, collection and disposal of refuse from homes, public places and lorry parks and the emptying of street litter bins.