Omanghana
Ghanaian actress and social activist Efia Odo has questioned the effectiveness of President John Dramani Mahama’s national cleanup initiative, arguing that periodic sanitation exercises alone will not solve the country’s long-standing waste management and flooding challenges.
In a post shared on her X account on Friday, July 10, 2026, the media personality urged the government to focus on long-term solutions rather than relying on public cleanup campaigns. Her comments came shortly after the government launched a nationwide two-day sanitation exercise across seven flood-affected regions.
Calls for Lasting Waste Management Solutions
According to Efia Odo, while community cleanup exercises are a positive initiative, they do little to address the structural issues that continue to fuel poor sanitation and recurring floods.
She argued that the absence of adequate public waste disposal infrastructure makes it difficult for citizens to manage waste responsibly.
Among the concerns she raised were:
- The limited availability of public waste bins in towns and cities.
- Irregular and unreliable municipal waste collection services.
- The need for a comprehensive and sustainable national waste management system instead of periodic cleanup exercises.
She maintained that without addressing these underlying challenges, sanitation campaigns would have only a temporary impact.
Government’s Flood Response
Efia Odo’s comments come in the wake of a government-led cleanup operation launched following the devastating floods that affected several parts of the country on June 29.
President Mahama joined residents, sanitation workers, and government officials in communities including Alajo and Tse Addo in Accra to desilt drains and clear choked gutters as part of the emergency exercise.
Following the operation, the President indicated that the two-day campaign was only the beginning, announcing plans to introduce a mandatory nationwide cleanup exercise to be held once every month.
GH¢150 Million Released for Flood Mitigation
As part of broader efforts to tackle flooding, the government has also announced the release of GH¢150 million to support flood mitigation projects.
The funding is expected to finance activities such as dredging major rivers, streams, and drainage channels, as well as other interventions aimed at improving the country’s drainage infrastructure.
Public Debate Continues
Efia Odo’s remarks have generated widespread discussion on social media, where many users echoed her concerns about Ghana’s sanitation challenges.
Several commentators argued that greater investment in waste collection systems, the installation of public garbage bins, recycling initiatives, and stronger enforcement of sanitation regulations would have a more lasting impact than periodic manual cleanup exercises.
Source: Omanghana
