Omanghana
The government has announced a major two-day post-flood national cleanup exercise aimed at restoring communities across the Greater Accra Region following devastating floods that affected several parts of the capital and surrounding municipalities.
The exercise, scheduled for Friday, July 10, and Saturday, July 11, 2026, will take place across 104 designated locations in all municipalities within the Greater Accra Region. Activities will run from 6:00 AM to 1:00 PM each day.
The initiative, themed “Our Actions, Our Future: Cleaning Ghana After the Floods,” was launched by President John Mahama as part of efforts to address the impact of the floods and prevent future disasters through improved sanitation and drainage management.
Markets and Businesses Ordered to Close During Exercise
To ensure maximum public participation, the government has directed that all markets, shops, and non-essential businesses across Greater Accra remain closed during the cleanup hours.
Greater Accra Regional Minister Ahmed Ibrahim warned that traders and business owners who fail to comply with the directive will face strict penalties.
The temporary shutdown is intended to allow residents, local authorities, security agencies, and state officials to participate fully in clearing flood debris, improving sanitation, and restoring public spaces.
Cleanup Coordinated by Regional Authorities
The exercise is being organized by the Post-Flood Mitigation Committee in collaboration with the Greater Accra Regional Coordinating Council (GARCC).
Municipal assemblies have been assigned specific operational areas, with teams focusing on:
- Desilting blocked and overflowing drainage channels.
- Removing debris from major roads and public areas.
- Clearing accumulated waste from flood-affected communities.
- Sanitizing markets, transport terminals, and other public spaces.
Officials say the operation is designed not only as an emergency response but also as part of a broader strategy to improve flood resilience across the region.
Key Cleanup Locations Across Greater Accra
While the full operational plan covers 104 flood-prone areas, authorities have identified several major commercial centers, drainage corridors, and affected communities as priority intervention zones.
Ashiedu Keteke Sub-Metro (Accra Central)
Cleanup teams will focus on major commercial areas including:
- Agbogbloshie Market: Removal of accumulated waste and silt from market drainage systems.
- Makola Market Zones 1–4: Clearing commercial gutters and cleaning internal walkways.
- Kantanto Market Area: Clearing blocked pathways and drainage outlets near railway areas.
- Rawlings Park and surrounding streets: Refuse collection and pavement sanitation.
Okaikwei South and North Municipalities
Priority areas include:
- Kaneshie Market Complex: Cleaning market areas and nearby drainage systems.
- Avenor Traffic Light Junction: Removing silt and waste blocking major storm drains.
- Abeka-Lapaz Highway Interchange: Clearing roadside gutters and pedestrian areas.
- Achimota Market and terminal areas: Sanitizing transport hubs and restoring drainage flow.
Korle Klottey Sub-Metro
Operations will target:
- Kwame Nkrumah Interchange (Circle): Deep cleaning of the transport hub and surrounding drainage outlets.
- Odaw River drainage channels: Mechanical desilting of major waterways.
- Adabraka Sahara Community: Removal of flood residue and sanitation of residential drainage areas.
Ablekuma Central, West, and North Municipalities
Key intervention points include:
- Mampong Stream and surrounding drains: Removal of plastic waste and materials restricting water flow.
- Dansoman High Street gutters: Community-wide drainage clearing.
- Mallam Interchange: Removal of sand and silt deposited on major roads.
Ayawaso East, Central, and West Municipalities
Cleanup activities will focus on:
- Nima and Maamobi drainage networks: Large-scale desilting of major community channels.
- Accra New Town commercial streets: Waste collection and market sanitation.
- East Legon Bawaleshie area: Clearing blocked secondary drainage systems.
Ledzokuku and Krowor Municipalities
Authorities will concentrate on clearing storm drains beneath major coastal roads around the Teshie-Nungua corridor.
Ga East, Ga West, and Ga South Municipalities
Priority areas include:
- Amasaman Market and lorry station: Desilting drainage channels near transport centers.
- Madina Market and Zongo Junction: Community cleanup of commercial areas and gutters.
Civic Responsibilities During Cleanup
Government officials, security leaders, and Members of Parliament have been instructed to leave their offices and join residents in their respective communities.
Authorities have also urged residents whose neighborhoods are not specifically listed among the major intervention areas to participate by:
- Clearing gutters directly in front of homes, shops, and workplaces.
- Removing plastic waste and accumulated silt from drainage channels.
- Sorting refuse and handing waste to designated collection trucks operated by municipal assemblies and waste management companies.
- Ensuring all shops, stalls, and retail businesses remain closed until the exercise ends at 1:00 PM on both days.
The government says the cleanup represents a collective national effort to restore affected communities, strengthen sanitation practices, and reduce the risk of future flooding across Greater Accra.
Source: Omanghana
