Day one of the National Clean-Up Exercise on Friday, July 10, 2026, produced several memorable moments as political leaders, security agencies, public institutions and citizens joined forces to restore sanitation in flood-affected communities.
From President John Dramani Mahama and Vice President Professor Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang personally participating in clean-up activities to lawmakers engaging residents over local concerns, the exercise became a display of leadership, public participation and, at times, tension.
GhanaWeb highlights some of the major moments from the first day of the nationwide sanitation exercise.
President Mahama desilts drains and clears rubbish
President John Dramani Mahama joined residents in Tse Addo and other flood-prone areas as part of the clean-up exercise.
The President was seen actively participating in desilting clogged gutters and clearing waste from drains.
He used the opportunity to caution citizens against indiscriminate dumping, stressing that poor sanitation practices contribute to flooding.
Vice President Professor Jane Opoku-Agyemang joins residents at Nungua
Vice President Professor Jane Opoku-Agyemang also participated in clean-up activities at the Nungua Market and surrounding communities.
She urged Ghanaians to change their attitude towards sanitation, noting that many environmental challenges are caused by human activities and require consistent collective action beyond designated clean-up days.
Parliament suspends sitting for clean-up exercise
In an unusual move, Speaker of Parliament Alban Bagbin suspended Friday’s sitting to allow MPs from flood-affected areas to return to their constituencies and lead clean-up activities.
The move enabled lawmakers to join residents in addressing sanitation challenges in their communities.
Security agencies and institutions lead from the front
The Ghana Armed Forces, Police Service and other security agencies deployed personnel to support the exercise across Greater Accra and other regions.
Government ministries, Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs), as well as private companies, also participated in the exercise.
Companies such as Zoomlion supported waste management efforts by providing additional facilities to handle collected waste.
AMA task force clashes with vendors over clean-up directive
Tense scenes emerged in parts of Accra as Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) task force officials confronted vendors who allegedly failed to comply with the directive to suspend trading activities and participate in the exercise.
Videos circulating on social media showed officials attempting to confiscate goods from some vendors, while others hurriedly packed their items and left the area.
AMA task force seizes food items from vendors who defied President Mahama’s national clean-up exercise directive to suspend business activities and participate in environmental sanitation.
— EDHUB🌍ℹ (@eddie_wrt) July 10, 2026
VC: @The1957News pic.twitter.com/rC84oNfEbi
Okaikwei North MP confronts bank over sanitation concerns
The Member of Parliament for Okaikwei North, Theresa Lardi Awuni, criticised CalBank over what she described as the bank’s failure to clean its frontage during the exercise.
In a video shared online, the MP questioned why institutions operating within communities could not take responsibility for maintaining their surroundings while she personally participated in clearing gutters.
“The least you can do is clean your frontage. Banks are not an exception. I have left to clean your gutters for you to get paid?” she stated.
Weija-Gbawe MP engages resident in heated exchange
During the exercise in the Weija-Gbawe constituency, MP Jerry Ahmed Shaib had a heated exchange with a female resident who complained that flood victims needed relief support in addition to participating in the clean-up.
The resident questioned why affected persons were expected to clean without receiving assistance.
In response, the MP stressed that the exercise was primarily aimed at clearing drains and preventing future flooding rather than serving as a relief distribution activity.
“We are always doing this to politicians, and when they take advantage of us, we don’t get it,” he said.
“We are always doing this to politicians, and when they take advantage of us, we don’t get it”
— SIKAOFFICIAL🦍 (@SIKAOFFICIAL1) July 10, 2026
—Member of Parliament for the Weija-Gbawe Constituency, Jerry Ahmed Shaib, responded to a woman who complained that those who came to carry out the National Clean-Up Exercise did not… pic.twitter.com/wuoKrZ0Hvs
The National Clean-Up Exercise was organised following President Mahama’s directive after the devastating June 29 floods, which affected several communities and caused significant loss of lives and property.
VKB/MA
