The maiden edition of the National Sanitation Day, after the Presidential relaunch, took off successfully across the Accra Metropolis on Saturday, with thousands of residents, traders, and shop owners actively participating in the citywide clean-up operation directed by the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA).

The exercise, which began at 6am, saw an overwhelming turnout in markets, lorry stations, and communities as residents heeded the Assembly’s directive to close all shops and join the clean-up campaign with key areas such as Agbogbloshie, Kaneshie Market, Tuesday Market, Kwame Nkrumah Interchange, and Kwasiadwaso witnessing massive desilting of drains, sweeping, and clearing of heaps of refuse.

Speaking after the exercise, the Minister for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, Hon. Ahmed Ibrahim, described the event as “very successful” and commended the level of public participation.

“I can confidently say that this exercise has been very successful indeed, very successful,” he stated adding that “the level of participation was overwhelming, and for the first time in a long while, we have seen such enthusiasm and involvement from the people. By the grace of God, everything went smoothly, and the results have been encouraging.”

The Minister pointed out some logistical challenges encountered during the operation, including the shortage of waste containers, compactors, and bins in certain areas, stressing that the Ministry would work with the Assemblies to provide more equipment and improve waste collection systems to sustain the gains made.

He said sanitation remained a key priority in urban Ghana, noting that while rural communities often demand schools and teachers’ quarters, cities such as Accra require compactors, street sweepers, and waste infrastructure to keep the environment clean, especially around major hospitals and business districts.

He announced that the government plans to construct modern, 24-hour economy markets across all 261 Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies (MMDAs) to promote organised trading and improve sanitation in marketplaces.

 “Without proper markets, we cannot regulate or structure buying and selling effectively. Moving forward, we will correct those planning mistakes and work with traditional authorities and the Lands Commission to secure land for this vision,” he said.

The Ga Mantse, His Royal Majesty,Nii Tackie Teiko Tsuru II, who was accompanied by the Sempe Mantse,Nii Adote Otintor II and some High Priests of the Ga State (Wulomei), expressed deep appreciation to all participants and called the day “a turning point for the city and its people.”

The Ga Mantse disclosed plans to work with the Ministry and the Assembly to develop a Master Plan for the Central Business District (CBD), aimed at reorganising trading activities, improving market structures, and addressing the plastic waste menace.

 “We will explore effective ways to reduce, recycle, and properly dispose of plastics to keep our city and environment clean. This will not just be rhetoric; there will be concrete action to ensure that Accra becomes the clean city we all desire,” he said.

The Mayor of Accra, Hon. Michael Kpakpo Allotey, who led the exercise through several communities, said it was the first time in the city’s history that such a broad coalition of leaders and citizens had actively participated in a clean-up campaign.

 “It has never happened in the history of Accra to have our leaders, from traditional authorities to ministers and city officials, all join hands to clean the city, I am happy with the level of participation from traders, youth groups, and residents, and I urge everyone to continue this momentum beyond today,”he said.

He thanked the President for his leadership and the Greater Accra Regional Minister , Hon Linda Obenewaa Akweley Ocloo for her counsel and direction as well as  reiterated the AMA’s commitment to enforcing sanitation bylaws and sustaining the campaign through education, enforcement, and collaboration with communities.

“We can only achieve this clean-up goal by working together as a team. Today reminds us that when we come together as one people with one common purpose and one shared destiny, there is nothing we cannot accomplish,” he said, adding that the spirit of unity and responsibility witnessed during the exercise must become a permanent feature of civic life in Accra.

He posited that the exercise marked a renewed era of civic responsibility and inter-agency cooperation, signalling that the exercise would be sustained to make Accra “clean, green, and resilient” in line with the President’s vision for a cleaner Ghana.

Across the metropolis, teams of public health officers and task force members monitored compliance, while Assembly Members led simultaneous clean-up activities in their electoral areas. Public enthusiasm remained high throughout the day, with residents expressing satisfaction over the joint leadership of government, traditional authorities, and the city.

Also present for the exercise were the Deputy Minister for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, Hon. Rita Naa Odoley Sowah, MCE for Korle Klottey Municipal Assembly, Hon. Alfred Allotey-Gaisie, MCE for Ablekuma Central Municipal Assembly, Hon. Frank Nkansah, NALAG President and Assemblyman for Avenor Electoral Area, Hon. Alfred Asiedu Adjei, Chief Director for the Greater Accra Regional Coordinating Council (GARCC), Madam Lilian Baeka, the Ga Dangme Council of Wulomei among other dignitaries.