President Mahama Re-Launches National Sanitation Day to Promote Cleanliness Nationwide
President John Dramani Mahama has re-launched the National Sanitation Day, to be observed on the first Saturday of every month starting October 2025, across all 261 Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies (MMDAs).
The initiative, originally introduced during Mahama’s first administration in 2014, aims to foster a cleaner Ghana by empowering local government structures and encouraging citizen participation in environmental responsibility.
Speaking at the re-launch event in Madina near Accra, President Mahama emphasized the importance of instilling a culture of cleanliness in Ghanaians, particularly the youth. He announced plans to collaborate with the Ministry of Education to integrate courtesy and responsible citizenship into the school curriculum. “If we train our children properly from basic school through secondary school, when they grow, they will not depart from it,” he said.
To strengthen enforcement, Mahama proposed amending Chapter 22 of the 1992 Constitution to restore traditional authorities’ powers, enabling chiefs to establish Sanitation Courts to penalize persistent polluters. “Our chiefs were leaders in voluntarism and communal labor. We can put a sanitation court in the palace of every chief, working with district assemblies, to sanction those who pollute,” he stated. The President urged the National House of Chiefs and Regional Houses to support these constitutional changes.
Mahama also highlighted reforms to the District Assemblies’ Common Fund, noting that 80% of funds now go directly to MMDAs, up from less than 50% previously. “MMDCEs have no excuse for lack of resources,” he said, declaring sanitation a Key Performance Indicator (KPI) for assessing their performance. High-performing districts and traditional areas will be rewarded, he added.
Minister of Local Government, Chieftaincy, and Religious Affairs, Ahmed Ibrahim, described the re-launch as a “bold declaration” against environmental pollution, which has led to health crises like cholera, malaria, and typhoid, as well as flooding, infrastructure damage, and economic setbacks. “We will not tolerate the menace of filth,” he affirmed.
Ogyeahohuo Yaw Gyebi II, President of the National House of Chiefs, who chaired the event, pledged the full support of traditional leaders for the initiative, reinforcing the collective effort to restore cleanliness, discipline, and dignity to Ghana’s communities.
