The Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy, and Religious Affairs has issued a directive to all Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies (MMDAs) to clear all public spaces, ceremonial streets, and visible nuisances within their jurisdictions with immediate effect.

This move is part of the relaunch of the National Sanitation Day (NSD), a flagship initiative under the government's "Clean Up Ghana Agenda."

NSD relaunch

The NSD, first launched in 2014, aims to restore discipline and pride in public spaces, empower local government structures, and foster citizen participation and accountability. The relaunch, scheduled for Saturday, September 6, 2025, at the Institute of Local Government Studies in Madina, will be officiated by President John Dramani Mahama.

The relaunch of the NSD is a defining moment in Ghana's national journey, testing the country's seriousness about public health and national pride. With collective effort and determination, a cleaner, healthier, and transformed Ghana is within reach.

Vision for cleaner Ghana

The Minister of Local Government, Mr. Ahmed Ibrahim, emphasised that the NSD is a renewed social contract between the government and citizens, anchored on accountability, enforcement, and sustainability. He noted that poor sanitation is not just an aesthetic issue but a significant threat to public health, economic growth, and national dignity.

To support the initiative, the government has released 80 per cent of the District Assemblies Common Fund to MMDAs, ensuring they have the necessary resources to undertake critical environmental sanitation functions. The Ministry will also establish a dedicated sanitation hotline and maintain a central dashboard to track reports, responses, and performance of assemblies.

Action

The Minister urged MMDAs to mobilise environmental health officers, waste management officers, private waste service providers, community volunteers, and citizens to sustain the compliance of the directive. He also appealed to media houses, MPs, and citizens to support the initiative and hold assemblies accountable.

Accountability

To ensure the success of the NSD, Mr Ibrahim further announced that the Ministry will establish a dedicated sanitation hotline for citizens to report public cleansing nuisances.

 He said a central dashboard to track reports, responses, and performance of assemblies will be maintained while the assemblies will be required to submit monthly reports on their sanitation activities.

Collective efforts

“As the nation embarks on this renewed effort, it's time for Ghanaians to take ownership of their environment and work together to achieve a common goal: a clean, healthy, and prosperous Ghana” the minister added.