The maiden edition of the National Sanitation Day, following its Presidential relaunch, took off successfully on Saturday, with thousands of residents, traders, and shop owners participating in a massive citywide clean-up exercise coordinated by the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA).

The exercise, which commenced at 6:00 a.m., saw impressive participation across key areas, including Agbogbloshie, Kaneshie Market, Tuesday Market, Kwame Nkrumah Interchange, and Kwasiadwaso, where residents joined Assembly workers to desilt drains, sweep streets, and clear heaps of refuse.

Shops and businesses across the metropolis temporarily closed in compliance with the AMA’s directive, allowing for full community participation in the campaign aimed at restoring cleanliness and environmental hygiene in the capital.

Speaking after the exercise, the Minister for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, Mr. Ahmed Ibrahim, described the event as a major success and commended the enthusiastic public response.

“I can confidently say that this exercise has been very successful indeed — very successful,” he said.

“For the first time in a long while, we have seen such enthusiasm and involvement from the people.

By the grace of God, everything went smoothly, and the results have been encouraging.”

The Minister, however, acknowledged a few logistical challenges during the operation, citing shortages of waste containers, compactors, and bins in some areas.

He assured that the Ministry would collaborate with the Assemblies to address these gaps by providing additional equipment and strengthening waste collection systems to ensure sustained results.

Mr. Ibrahim underscored that sanitation remains a top government priority, especially in urban centres like Accra.

While rural communities often demand infrastructure such as schools and teachers’ quarters, he noted that urban areas require compactors, street sweepers, and reliable waste management infrastructure to maintain hygiene, particularly around major hospitals and business districts.

He further announced plans by the government to construct modern, 24-hour economy markets across all 261 Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies (MMDAs) to promote organised trading and improve sanitation standards in marketplaces nationwide.

The Minister encouraged Ghanaians to continue supporting the National Sanitation Day initiative, stressing that keeping the environment clean is a shared civic duty essential to public health and national development.