President John Dramani Mahama has called for a coordinated and sustained national effort to tackle Ghana's long-standing sanitation crisis, as he officially relaunched the National Sanitation Day (NSD) initiative.
Speaking at the launch on Saturday, September 6, 2025, the president emphasised that environmental cleanliness must be treated as a national priority and not only for public health, but also for Ghana's dignity and international image.
He said it was incumbent upon citizens and institutions to prioritise and address sanitation issues with "untiring resolve" through a coordinated and collective effort to keep cities and towns clean.
"I am fully convinced that the National Sanitation Day will in no small way contribute to the attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly those that prioritise health and wellbeing, sustainable cities, clean water and sanitation, climate action and ocean and land conservation," he said.
The National Sanitation Day campaign, which will now be observed on the first Saturday of every month, forms part of President Mahama's broader "Clean Up Ghana" agenda.
EXPLAINER: Why government is reintroducing National Sanitation Day
The initiative aims to instill a culture of civic responsibility, promote environmental sustainability and mobilise citizens for regular nationwide clean-up exercises across all 16 regions and 261 districts.
As part of a renewed focus on environmental protection, President Mahama also announced a series of initiatives designed to combat illegal mining, restore degraded forests and create jobs for young people.
The Blue Water River Guards programme will deploy 2,000 trained youth to rehabilitate and protect Ghana's rivers and water bodies, with an initial team of 400 set to begin work soon.
In addition, the Tree for Life Restoration project will drive large-scale reforestation and afforestation efforts, with a focus on planting economically valuable species such as cocoa, timber, palm and rubber.
According to the president, this will not only aid ecological recovery but also generate sustainable employment and support Ghana's fight against climate change.
To ensure accountability and strengthen local government oversight, President Mahama pledged to introduce a performance assessment framework for Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs), which will include strict environmental sanitation indicators.
Minister of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, Ahmed Ibrahim, reaffirmed this commitment, saying the revised National Sanitation Day programme would restore discipline in public spaces, empower local assemblies and mobilise communities for collective action.
Local Government Minister vows tougher enforcement as National Sanitation Day is relaunched
He announced that stricter measures would be introduced, including a dedicated sanitation hotline for citizens to report nuisances, a central dashboard to track sanitation performance at the district level and mandatory monthly reports from local Assemblies.
Ibrahim also called on traditional authorities, faith-based organisations, youth groups, the media and all stakeholders to fully embrace the campaign and work together to make Ghana cleaner and healthier.
AM/AE
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