President Mahama Launches National Sanitation Day, Calls for Collective Action

On Saturday, 6th September 2025, the President of the Republic of Ghana, His Excellency John Dramani Mahama, officially launched the re-introduction of the National Sanitation Day at the Institute of Local Government Studies (ILGS), Ogbojo–Madina, urging Ghanaians to unite in keeping the nation clean.

The initiative, spearheaded by the Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, is part of the broader “Clean Up Ghana” agenda aimed at tackling unsanitary conditions, reducing disease outbreaks, and improving the quality of life of citizens. The exercise will be observed nationwide on the first Saturday of every month.

In his address, President Mahama underscored the importance of sanitation to public health, education, tourism, and socio-economic development. He said while some progress had been made, poor waste management continued to undermine Ghana’s development, making it urgent for citizens to act collectively. “The National Sanitation Day is a call to action; an opportunity for each of us, regardless of political affiliation, social standing, ethnicity, or religious beliefs, to unite in keeping our surroundings clean,” he stated.

He recalled the success of the earlier National Sanitation Day held between 2014 and 2016, which mobilised communities across the country to desilt drains, clear refuse and reclaim public spaces. The President emphasised that the revived exercise would help safeguard public health, improve hygiene, enhance the aesthetic beauty of towns and cities, promote national pride and identity, and attract tourism and investment.

To complement the monthly clean-up exercise, government has rolled out supporting initiatives. These include the Blue Water River Guards, which will engage 2,000 youth to protect water bodies and combat illegal mining, and the Tree for Life Restoration project, which will promote afforestation and create sustainable youth employment. He also announced plans to upgrade Environmental Health and Sanitation Units at the local government level into fully resourced departments, and to introduce a Cleanest City Award as an incentive for Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies to maintain higher standards of cleanliness. In addition, a new performance assessment framework for MMDCEs will incorporate strict sanitation indicators to ensure assemblies give proper attention to waste management.

President Mahama appealed to traditional rulers, religious leaders, schools, businesses, civil society, and especially the media, to use their platforms to raise awareness and mobilise support for the initiative. He stressed that the long-term success of the National Sanitation Day would depend on broad-based participation across all sectors of society.

As part of the launch on September 6, 2025, the President presented sanitation tools and implements to the volunteer group Buzstop Boys, acknowledging their grassroots efforts and encouraging Ghanaian youth to emulate their spirit of service and innovation in waste management.

Declaring the National Sanitation Day duly launched, President Mahama urged all citizens to rekindle the spirit of communal labour and make environmental responsibility a hallmark of national identity.

SOURCE: Darling Maame Efua Cann

(MLGCRA PR UNIT)