President John Dramani Mahama is set to re-launch the National Sanitation Day (NSD) on Saturday, September 6, 2025, in a major push to tackle Ghana’s persistent waste problem.
The renewed initiative, a flagship of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) government’s ‘Clean Up Ghana Agenda,’ aims to bring a new level of accountability and discipline to sanitation efforts.
Speaking at a press briefing in Accra yesterday, the Minister for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, Ahmed Ibrahim, announced that the re-launch will take place at the Institute of Local Government Studies in Madina.
The minister stressed that Ghana, like many rapidly growing nations, faces a crisis of indiscriminate dumping and clogged drains that leads to frequent flooding and public health risks.
“When visitors are welcomed by heaps of waste, it conveys a negative impression about us,” Ibrahim said, emphasizing that a clean environment is a key indicator of effective local governance and a boost to the economy.
A New Approach to an Old Problem
This time around, the re-launch is more than just a ceremonial event. According to the minister, the new NSD is built on a “social contract” between the government and its citizens, focusing on accountability, enforcement, and sustainability.
The ministry has set three core objectives:
* Restore discipline and pride in public spaces to protect public health and national dignity.
* Empower and mobilize local government structures to take ownership of sanitation.
* Encourage citizen participation and accountability, recognizing that the success of the initiative hinges on everyone—from households to the private sector—doing their part.
In a bold move, Ibrahim revealed that sanitation has now been made a Key Performance Indicator (KPI) for Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs). Assemblies that fail to ensure sustainable cleanliness could face dismissal.
Directives and Funding
To kickstart the campaign, the ministry has issued a directive for all Assemblies to ensure public spaces, ceremonial streets, and visible nuisances are cleaned daily by 8:00 a.m., starting tomorrow, September 4. This six-month directive will serve as a benchmark to ensure that unsightly filth is progressively eliminated.
Acknowledging that funding is often an issue, the minister announced that 80% of the District Assemblies Common Fund has been released, with a specific 10% allocation for sanitation. This, he noted, will provide districts with the resources they need to keep cities and towns clean.
Holding People Accountable.
To boost transparency and accountability, a new sanitation hotline has been established, allowing citizens to report sanitation issues directly. These reports will be verified and addressed by the relevant Assemblies, with a central dashboard to track performance. MMDCEs are also required to submit monthly reports on their sanitation efforts.
Both the minister and the Chief Director of the Ministry, Alhaji Amin Abdul-Rahaman, urged Members of Parliament, MMDCEs, the media, and the public to become advocates in their communities, helping to mobilize citizens and hold local authorities accountable.
“This is not business as usual,” Minister Ibrahim said. “This marks the beginning of a new culture of cleanliness in Ghana.”
By Philip Antoh