Security forces lead clean-up exercise

Armed with brooms, rakes, shovels and wheelbarrows, residents, sanitation workers and security personnel yesterday fanned out across parts of Accra to sweep streets and desilt choked drains as the first of the two-day nationwide clean-up exercise got underway.

The exercise, directed by President John Dramani Mahama following the recent devastating floods that claimed lives and displaced hundreds of residents, saw activities begin as early as 7 a.m. in some of the capital’s hardest-hit areas.

At the Kwame Nkrumah Circle and the Accra Central Business District (CBD), personnel of the Ghana Police Service and the Ghana Armed Forces worked alongside sanitation workers and residents to clear refuse from streets and remove silt and debris from drains.

While some of the sanitation workers wore reflective vests branded “AMA Street Sweepers”, many other volunteers participated in casual attire with brooms, rakes and shovels.
Garbage trucks were strategically positioned to collect heaps of refuse gathered during the exercise, with waste carted away at the final stage of the cleaning process.

Closed shops

The bustling commercial centres of the Kwame Nkrumah Circle, the Accra CBD and Kaneshie didn’t have their usual busy look, as shops and significant sections of the markets remained closed in compliance with the government’s directive for the mandatory exercise.

 Personnel of the Ghana Police Service joined hands with community members to clear piled-up waste at Circle, Accra

Beyond the organised teams, some residents took the initiative to sweep the frontages of their homes and business premises.

“I have never seen Circle this clean.

It’s impressive.

This is proof that we can make our country a nice place to be,” a trader who identified herself as Vivian said.

“I look around, and the pavements, the main road and the median are all looking good.

We’ve done very well to come together and clear all the rubbish.

I just hope we can sustain it beyond the two days,” she added.

Police officers assist sanitation workers in desilting a  storm drain during the clean-up at Accra Central, demonstrating inter-agency collaboration to improve sanitation and help prevent flooding. Pictures: CALEB VANDERPUYE

A group of cleaners also said they were present to play their part to avoid future disasters.

“We are here to do our part to stop the floods.

This very place was one of the most affected areas.

And the President has instructed that we clean up, and so we are here to do that.

We need everyone to come on board, grab a broom and clean,” a member of the group said.

Heaps of rubbish at circle 

A commuter who spoke to the Daily Graphic on condition of anonymity said: “I have to say, even though I’m happy, Ghanaians are coming together to clean our city, it is disappointing that we had to wait for devastating floods and a presidential directive to clean.

These are things that should be basic. We don’t need orders from above before we manage our waste properly.”

At La Dade-Kotopon Municipal Assembly (LaDMA), the exercise brought together personnel from the security services, workers from Zoomlion, assembly staff and residents who worked to clear blocked drains, remove debris left after the flood and clean bushy areas within the municipality.

The team focused on flood-prone areas identified as hotspots, including Tse Ado, Kojo Sardine, Palm-Wine Junction and the Wireless Area, where drains were desilted to improve the flow of storm water.

Strict enforcement

The Greater Accra Regional Minister, Linda Obenewaa Akweley Ocloo, who visited the area, warned that authorities would strictly enforce sanitation laws and punish persons who contribute to flooding through illegal activities.

Residents and volunteers remove heavy concrete slabs and debris from a choked drain during the clean-up exercise at the Kwame Nkrumah Circle in Accra to improve drainage

She said the government would no longer tolerate appeals on behalf of persons found guilty of sanitation offences.

“If you are fined and sanctioned, make sure you face whatever judgment you have,” she said.

The Regional Minister further disclosed that structures identified as obstructing watercourses would be demolished as part of measures to address recurring flooding in the capital.

She said demolition exercises had already started in some areas, notably Weija, and gave an assurance that other structures found to be blocking watercourses would be removed.

The Municipal Chief Executive for LaDMA, Alfredos Nii Anyetei, said the assembly had already started desilting drains before the directive due to the accumulation of sand and waste in some watercourses.

Personnel from Zoomlion Ghana Limited, supported by community members, swept and cleared silt and waste from sections of the road during the clean-up exercise at Accra Central

He explained that although the assembly had undertaken earlier interventions, subsequent rains brought additional debris from upstream, making continuous cleaning necessary.

“We are not stopping. We are not saying that because we have done some, we are ending it.

We are continually desilting and cleaning our spaces,” he said.

He urged residents to maintain clean surroundings beyond the two-day exercise, stressing that sanitation must become a daily responsibility.

“For us in La, we are known for cleanliness.

After today and tomorrow’s clean-up, we are not stopping here.

Every day, we should ensure that we keep our homes, offices and open spaces clean,” he said.

He warned that persons who failed to participate in the exercise or violated sanitation regulations would face enforcement actions.