MLGCRA Minister Engages GJA, Senior Editors to Rally Media Support for Sanitation Campaign

Accra, Friday, September 5, 2025 — Ahead of the relaunch of the National Sanitation Day (NSD), the Minister for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, Hon. Ahmed Ibrahim, on Friday, September 5, 2025, met with the leadership of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) and senior editors of leading media houses in Accra to court their support in driving the nationwide sanitation campaign.

The engagement formed part of stakeholder consultations leading into the Clean Up Ghana Campaign, which is anchored on the reintroduction of National Sanitation Day as a flagship civic responsibility exercise.

Hon. Ibrahim underscored the indispensable role of the media in shaping public opinion and setting the national agenda, stressing that the success of the sanitation drive hinged on sustained media advocacy. “The media is the nation’s conscience. If you give prominence to sanitation, if you dedicate space, airtime, and creative energy to this cause, we will succeed in changing mindsets and building a culture of cleanliness across Ghana,” the Minister told the editors.

On behalf of the media fraternity, GJA President, Mr. Albert Kwabena Dwumfuor, pledged the full support of the Ghanaian media towards the noble cause of making Ghana clean under the Clean Up Ghana Campaign. He assured that media houses across the country would dedicate their platforms to amplify the sanitation message, support behavioural change, and hold duty-bearers accountable to ensure lasting impact.

The meeting also highlighted government’s new accountability measures, including a central sanitation dashboard, a reporting hotline, and mandatory monthly performance updates from assemblies—tools the Minister urged the media to monitor and publicise as part of their watchdog role.

Friday’s engagement set the tone for the relaunch of National Sanitation Day on September 6, 2025, officially led by President John Dramani Mahama. The relaunch seeks to restore communal participation in sanitation, institutionalise citizen accountability, and position cleanliness as both a development and cultural imperative.

With the media formally on board, the Ministry expressed confidence that the Clean Up Ghana Campaign would resonate more deeply with citizens and communities, inspiring a national awakening to the shared responsibility of keeping Ghana clean.

SOURCE: Darling Maame Efua Cann

(MLGCRA PR UNIT)