On Friday, July 10, President John Dramani Mahama rolled up his sleeves and joined the residents of Tse Addo in the Greater Accra Region for the National General Clean-up Exercise. In a powerful show of leadership by example, the President personally took part in desilting a clogged drain, a critical step toward improving local sanitation and reducing the threat of flooding.
President Mahama’s visit began with a briefing from local assembly officials on the ongoing clean-up operations. Without hesitation, he joined community members, security personnel, and other stakeholders in clearing refuse and removing silt from the area’s drainage channels. His presence energized the crowd and reinforced the importance of community participation in the fight against poor sanitation.
Addressing the participants, the President expressed his appreciation for the residents’ strong turnout and commitment. “I want to use this opportunity to thank all the residents who have come out to help with this exercise. Clearly, we can see what the cause of our problem is. We’ve just desilted this. Look at the plastics that we are taking out of it,” President Mahama remarked, gesturing at the piles of plastic waste that had choked the drains.
He noted that the sheer volume of silt and plastic waste removed was a stark reminder of how years of neglect and inadequate maintenance had compromised the drainage system, making the area more vulnerable to floods. The President highlighted the need for better waste disposal habits and regular drainage maintenance to protect communities from future disasters.
President Mahama also cautioned against leaving dredged silt by the roadside after clean-up exercises, warning that rains could simply wash the debris back into the drains, undoing the hard work of volunteers. He commended the involvement of the military and security services, assuring residents that these teams would continue to dredge major waterways to improve water flow into wetlands.
The National General Clean-up Exercise, organized by the Post-Flood Mitigation Committee, is a government-led response to the devastating June 29 floods. The two-day, phased operation targets seven flood-affected regions across Ghana. On the first day, security services, Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs), and waste management companies take the lead, while the second day is reserved for broad public participation.
President Mahama’s hands-on involvement in Tse Addo not only inspired those present, but also sent a strong message nationwide: tackling flooding and improving sanitation is a shared responsibility, requiring both leadership and active participation from every citizen.
Source: Apexnewsgh.com