Make cleanliness a daily habit beyond National Sanitation Day – Mayor urges traders

Accra's Mayor, Michael Kpakpo Allotey, has urged traders to adopt cleanliness as a daily routine, not just a one-day activity for National Sanitation Day. Allotey emphasized that just as households clean after meals, traders must clean their trading spaces after each day's business. He made this appeal at the city's Rawlings Park on October 3, 2026, during the Accra Metropolitan Assembly's national clean-up event to mark World Cleanup Day 2026.

The theme of the day was "From Clean Plates to Clean Cities," aligning with Ghana's National Sanitation Day theme of "Local Actions Yielding National Impact." The Mayor explained that the AMA's sanitation efforts aim to create a safe environment for traders to conduct their business without exposing them to health risks. Initial signs indicate that traders are beginning to understand the importance of cleanliness, with some voluntarily cleaning their surroundings during regular trading hours.

The Minister for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, Mahama Ayariga, announced plans to enhance Ghana's waste management system, including providing households with separate bins, replacing open-bucket waste tricycles, and constructing waste transfer stations across all Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies.

Ayariga also stressed the development of an integrated waste management system covering collection, transfer, disposal, and recycling. A Ga Mantse, King Tackie Teiko Tsuru II, expressed concerns about the temporary nature of sanitation efforts, calling on residents and traders to maintain clean spaces beyond organized events.