President Mahama declares war on filth, says “Ghana must be clean again”

President John Dramani Mahama has initiated the National Emergency Waste Evacuation Exercise to address Ghana's sanitation issues and clear the overflowing waste heaps in major cities. The exercise began on September 18 at the IRECOP Centre in Agbogbloshie, a site plagued by waste accumulation for years. Mahama described the situation as a national emergency, emphasizing the urgent need to safeguard public health and restore the pride of communities affected by poor sanitation.

He stated, "For too long, we have lived with this shame in the middle of our capital. Today, we say enough is enough. Accra must breathe again. Jamestown must live again." This initiative is part of the Clean Ghana Agenda, with the government utilizing existing state resources to tackle the sanitation crisis. Mahama lauded the Minister for Local Government for deploying District Road Improvement Programme (DRIP) equipment, a cost-effective solution that utilizes existing vehicles, military personnel, and local assemblies.

He also recognized the Ghana Armed Forces for their support with personnel and logistics. Additionally, he praised the Minister for Roads and Highways for securing over 200 trucks from road contractors to aid the waste evacuation efforts, and the Ministry of Finance for funding the fuel and maintenance of DRIP equipment through the District Assemblies Common Fund.