President John Dramani Mahama has announced plans for the military and other security services to embark on the dredging of major waterways as part of efforts to prevent future flooding in the country.
Speaking at Tse Addo in Accra on Friday, July 10, during the first day of a nationwide clean-up exercise organised in response to the June 29 floods that affected parts of Accra and other communities, the President said the exercise will focus on clearing key drains and waterways to improve the flow of rainwater into wetlands and mitigate the impact of floods.
He commended Ghanaians for turning out in large numbers to support the initiative and said the clean-up exercise would be followed by a sustained effort to improve drainage systems across the country.
"Let me congratulate all Ghanaians who have come out. I've gone round the city, and I've seen that the turnout has been very good. After this, the military and other services are going to continue to dredge the main waterways so that these drains can have an outlet to send the water to those wetlands. So this will be a continuous exercise," he said.
The President also called for a monthly national clean-up day to encourage citizens to take responsibility for maintaining a clean environment. He urged Ghanaians to set aside one day every month to participate in sanitation activities, with support from waste management companies.
"At least once a month, let's set aside one day and all of us come out and clean the city and with the help of the waste management companies, we'll be able to keep this city clean and also free of flooding," he added.
The June 29 floods caused significant damage in parts of Accra and other areas, prompting calls for improved drainage maintenance, proper waste disposal, and stronger flood prevention measures.
