Following the devastating June 29 floods, the government, today, July 10, organised a nationwide General Clean-up Exercise aimed at restoring sanitation conditions, clearing blocked drains.

The exercise was held across seven flood-affected regions, with government officials, security agencies, Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs), waste management companies and volunteers joining efforts to clear waste and desilt drainage channels.

As part of activities marking National Sanitation Day , President John Mahama joined residents and officials for a clean-up exercise at Tse-Addo. Vice President Professor Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang, also joined residents in the Nungua area for the exercise. Check out some pictures from the scene.

The exercise is expected to continue on Saturday, July 11.

Engaging participants during the exercise, President Mahama has called on the public to support the government’s efforts to make the country a clean, safe, and comfortable place. He noted that the indiscriminate disposal of waste is increasing the risk of flooding and undermining efforts to protect communities.

Speaking during an inspection of the Alajo drains as part of the National Clean-Up Exercise, President Mahama cautioned the public against dumping unwanted items into drains, warning that such practices contribute to flooding incidents.

According to him, the National Clean-Up Exercise has come to stay to promote a cleaner environment and encourage citizens to take responsibility for proper sanitation practices.

“We have to clear the drains. We just worked on this Alajo drain. It’s part of the outdoor stream. And there are two problems in it. There’s silt, and then there’s also plastics and household waste.

“You find in a drain like this, there are Indian blocks. People discard an Indian block and throw it in the drain. Old furniture, dining tables, everything you can find in that drain.The drains are not garbage instruments. If you want to dispose of something, you know how to dispose of it,” he said.

The government’s initiative is to help improve sanitation and reduce the risk of future flooding. In a statement issued on Monday, July 6, government spokesperson Felix Kwakye Ofosu announced that Friday, July 10, and Saturday, July 11, have been declared National General Cleaning Days across the seven regions affected by the devastating June 29 floods, following a directive from President John Dramani Mahama.

Part of the statement read, “This is a critical, nationwide exercise and all citizens are strongly encouraged to fully participate in it. For far too long, indiscriminate littering and plastic pollution have clogged our drainage systems, contributing to devastating, preventable floods that destroy livelihoods and claim precious Ghanaian lives”.

Ministers of State, Chief Executive Officers, Members of Parliament, Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs), and heads of public institutions in the affected regions have been directed to oversee the exercise.

Ghana witnessed a series of flooding incidents on Monday, June 29, in parts of the Greater Accra Region and other regions following heavy rains.

The rains, which started late on Sunday, June 28, left commuters stranded, brought traffic to a standstill, resulted in the deaths of several individuals and destruction of properties.

While some victims managed to salvage a few belongings, many suffered devastating losses as floodwaters submerged their homes and properties.

The current death toll from the flooding incidents, as confirmed by the Ghana National Fire Service Public Relations Department, stands at 34. Meanwhile, the Finance Minister has realised a sum of GH¢300 million from the Contingency Fund for individuals affected by the incident following President John Dramani Mahama’s directive.

The directive forms part of the government's response to the flooding of parts of Accra and other communities in the southern sector of the country after hours of unusually heavy rainfall.

In Ghana, the Contingency Fund is a constitutional fund set aside to meet urgent and unforeseen government expenses that cannot wait for the normal budget approval process.

It is established under Article 177 of the 1992 Constitution of Ghana. In a statement issued on behalf of the President by the Spokesperson to the President and Minister for Government Communications, Felix Kwakye Ofosu, it was indicated that the GH¢300 million will be divided into two, with portions designated to provide relief and implement measures to mitigate flooding.

“President John Dramani Mahama has directed the Minister for Finance to release GHS 300 million from the Contingency Fund to finance urgent flood relief and mitigation efforts.

GHS 150 million out of the amount will finance urgent relief efforts for flood-affected persons and communities in the southern sector of the country. Another GHS 150 million will be spent on flood mitigation measures aimed at reducing incidents of flooding,” parts of the statement read.

Also, due to the scale of destruction and the effects of the floods, President Mahama has ordered that additional support be provided by the Ghana Armed Forces and other security services for the rescue operations ongoing across the city.

“The President has also directed the deployment of personnel of the Ghana Armed Forces and Police to work with NADMO and other security services in the rescue and relief operations currently underway across the city,” adding that, “the President earlier today undertook an aerial tour of the flooded areas to assess the full extent of the situation and announced a raft of steps being taken to safeguard residents and prevent further flooding.”