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Greater Accra Regional Minister hails Nationwide Cleanup exercise
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The Greater Accra Regional Minister, Mrs Linda Obenewaa Akweley Ocloo, expressed satisfaction with the outcome of the two-day nationwide cleanup exercise, describing it as a major step towards tackling flooding and poor sanitation, while warning that authorities would clamp down on persons who continued to pollute the environment and obstruct waterways.
The Minister made the remarks after touring some of the region’s worst flood-affected communities, including Nungua, Alajo, Tse Addo and Apenkwa on Friday, and Alajo, Madina and Abelemkpe on Saturday, to assess the progress of the nationwide sanitation campaign.
She said the exercise had significantly improved the condition of drains and waterways in the affected communities and demonstrated what could be achieved when government institutions and residents worked together towards a common goal.
Mrs Ocloo commended the Ghana Armed Forces, the Ghana Police Service, the Ghana National Fire Service, the Ghana Immigration Service, the National Cleanup Assistance Trust, Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs), sanitation workers, volunteers and residents for their commitment and support throughout the exercise.
She said their collective efforts had contributed immensely to the successful removal of refuse, silt and other materials that had blocked drains and increased the risk of flooding in many parts of the region.
The Minister noted that the quantity of waste removed from drains and waterways had exceeded the expectations of the organisers, describing the situation as a reminder of the need for residents to adopt responsible waste disposal practices.
Mrs Ocloo stressed that environmental sanitation remained a shared responsibility and should not be left to government or the assemblies alone.
She urged residents to make cleanliness part of their daily lives by properly disposing of refuse, keeping drains free from waste and discouraging practices that degraded the environment.
The Minister cautioned that the Greater Accra Regional Coordinating Council, in collaboration with the MMDAs and the security agencies, would intensify the enforcement of sanitation regulations against individuals and businesses that dumped refuse into drains, built on waterways or engaged in activities that contributed to flooding.
She said authorities would also undertake targeted demolition exercises to remove structures that obstructed the natural flow of water where necessary, adding that such measures were essential to protecting lives and property.
Mrs Ocloo further warned traders and market operators against ignoring directives issued during sanitation exercises, stating that those who defied official instructions in future risked having their goods confiscated.
She disclosed that more than 300 additional trucks had been deployed during the exercise to transport the huge volumes of waste generated after the initial fleet proved inadequate for the scale of work across the region.
The Minister said relief items had already been distributed to all 27 flood-affected districts through the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) and the Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, while contingency funds approved by the President had supported ongoing desilting, dredging and other emergency interventions.
Mrs Ocloo assured residents that the Greater Accra Regional Coordinating Council would sustain the clean up campaign through continuous monitoring, public education and stricter enforcement of sanitation laws.
She appealed to residents to maintain the momentum created by the exercise, saying a cleaner, safer and flood-resilient Greater Accra could only be achieved if every citizen accepted responsibility for protecting the environment.
By Enoch Ntiamoah Siaw
The Ministry of the Interior has condemned the assault of an arrested person while in police custody and has directed the Inspector-General of Police to launch a full investigation into the incident.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, the Ministry said it noted with concern that the assault followed public statements linked to a religious dispute, including calls for violence against persons considered to have offended religious sensibilities.
“The Ministry unequivocally condemns all such statements, as there is no justification for inciting violence against Christians, Muslims, or any other person on the basis of religion,” the statement said.
The Ministry stressed that regardless of the allegation against a suspect, no one has the right to assault a person in police custody.
“An arrested person is in custody of the State and is entitled to the protection of the law,” the statement noted.
It also expressed serious concern over how civilians gained access to the person in custody.
The Minister, Muntaka Mubarak has directed the IGP to take three immediate actions
They are to identify how civilians accessed the arrested person and determine if any police personnel facilitated, permitted or acquiesced, adding that officers found culpable will face disciplinary action.
Additionally take immediate steps to identify, arrest and investigate the civilian persons who carried out the assault, in accordance with the law.
And finally investigate the conduct of all supervising officers responsible for custody and supervision, and apply disciplinary sanctions where necessary.
The Minister further directed the Police to deal with all persons arrested in connection with the preceding incidents “strictly in accordance with the law and without fear or favour.”
The Ministry reiterated that religious incitement, religious violence and the unlawful assault of persons in custody have no place in Ghana.
“No religious belief, personal grievance or other consideration places anyone above the law,” the statement emphasized.
It reaffirmed government’s commitment to maintaining public order, protecting the rights of persons in custody and promoting peaceful coexistence among citizens of all faiths and backgrounds.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
The Government of Ghana has stated that it fully funded the evacuation of more than 1,600 Ghanaians from South Africa following recent xenophobic attacks.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in a statement issued on Thursday, August 13, 2026, said Ghana did not seek financial or material support from the South African Government to bring the affected Ghanaians back home.
The Ministry was responding to media reports that South Africa was seeking about $18 million in reimbursement from some African countries for costs incurred in supporting and evacuating their nationals.
It explained that all costs related to the evacuation of Ghanaians were covered by the Government of Ghana and Ghanaian partners.
According to the Ministry, more than 1,600 Ghanaians have been evacuated from South Africa since May 2026, with the exercise still ongoing.
It said the evacuees are also provided with reintegration funds, transport fares and other relief items after arriving in Ghana to help them settle back into the country.
The Ministry assured Ghanaians that the country would not be included among those being asked by South Africa to reimburse the cost of repatriating foreign nationals.
It reaffirmed the government’s commitment to protecting the lives and welfare of Ghanaians living abroad.
The Ministry said the government would continue to take timely action whenever the safety and security of Ghanaians outside the country were at risk.
It expressed gratitude to President John Mahama and Ghanaian partners for supporting the fully Ghanaian-funded evacuation exercise.
By: Jacob Aggrey
