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Friday, July 10, is not a public holiday, despite the nationwide closure of markets and shops in seven flood-affected regions as part of a two-day National General Cleaning Exercise ordered by President John Dramani Mahama.
The nationwide clean-up follows the devastating floods that struck several parts of the country, particularly the Greater Accra Region, on June 29, claiming at least 12 lives and affecting approximately 38,800 people. The floods caused widespread destruction to homes, businesses, roads, and other public infrastructure.
The government has launched the clean-up campaign to clear debris, desilt drains, and disinfect flood-affected markets and public spaces in an effort to prevent disease outbreaks and reduce the impact of future flooding.
President Directs Nationwide Participation
President Mahama declared July 10 and 11, 2026, as National General Cleaning Days and instructed ministers, Members of Parliament, Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs), heads of public institutions, and other government officials to leave their offices and lead clean-up activities within their respective communities.
The exercise is being coordinated by the Post-Flood Mitigation Committee under the theme: “Our Actions, Our Future: Cleaning Ghana after the Floods.”
The announcement was made by Presidential Spokesperson Felix Kwakye Ofosu in a statement issued on July 6, 2026.
Markets and Shops to Remain Closed
The Minister for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, Ahmed Ibrahim, said all markets and shops in the affected regions must remain closed throughout the two-day exercise to allow authorities to desilt drains, remove waste, and disinfect market areas.
He stressed that everyone is expected to participate and warned that traders or business owners who defy the directive by opening their shops would face sanctions.
“Everybody must be on board. All markets and shops must be closed. So if you go and open your shop, you will be on fire,” he cautioned.
Mr Ibrahim explained that the directive is legally backed and urged Ghanaians not to disregard the President’s instruction.
“If a president speaks and you want to take it for granted, the law will deal with you. He is the Commander-in-Chief of the Ghana Armed Forces,” he said.
According to him, the temporary closure is necessary because many markets were inundated during the floods, making proper sanitation essential before commercial activities resume.
“The floodwaters entered many markets. If we don’t clean, remove the debris and disinfect these places, people will continue buying and selling contaminated goods, increasing the risk of disease outbreaks,” he explained.
Friday Remains a Normal Working Day
Although markets and shops will be closed, Friday remains an official working day.
Speaking on Peace FM on July 8, Presidential Spokesperson Felix Kwakye Ofosu clarified that public sector workers are expected to dedicate the day to the clean-up exercise instead of their regular office duties.
He appealed to employers across both the public and private sectors to release their staff to participate, describing the initiative as a collective national responsibility.
Mr Kwakye Ofosu further announced that Saturday, July 11, has been designated for the general public to join the nationwide exercise in their various communities.
He added that Brigadier General Forster Okae-Yeboah and his team have already begun preparations to ensure the successful implementation of the exercise.
The National General Cleaning Exercise will be carried out across the Greater Accra, Volta, Central, Western, Western North, Ashanti, and Eastern regions, all of which were affected by the recent floods.
source:graphic.com.gh
The Speaker of Parliament, Rt. Hon. Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, has directed that Parliament will not sit on Friday, July 10, 2026, to allow Members of Parliament from flood-affected areas to return to their constituencies and lead ongoing cleanup and recovery efforts.
Addressing the House, Speaker Bagbin said the decision followed unanimous agreement among Members after deliberations on the devastating impact of the recent floods in parts of the country.
“Among the matters we considered was whether it would be appropriate for the House not to sit on Friday, 10 July 2026, to enable Honourable Members from the affected regions to return to their constituencies and provide direct leadership in the cleanup exercise alongside their people,” he stated.
He added that the proposal received unanimous support from the House.
“It was unanimous, yes. And so I direct that this House will not sit on Friday, 10 July 2026,” Speaker Bagbin announced.
The decision is expected to give lawmakers the opportunity to support affected communities, assess the extent of the damage firsthand, and coordinate relief and cleanup efforts with local authorities and residents.
General News
President Mahama Declares July 10 and 11 National General Cleaning Days After Floods in Ghana
President John Dramani Mahama has declared Friday, July 10, and Saturday, July 11, 2026, as National General Cleaning Days in the seven regions affected by the recent floods, as part of government’s efforts to prevent further flooding and improve environmental sanitation.
The announcement was made in a statement issued by the Presidency Communications on Monday, July 6, 2026, under the auspices of the Post-Flood Mitigation Committee and signed by the Spokesperson to the President and Minister for Government Communications, Felix Kwakye Ofosu.
The two-day nationwide exercise will be held under the theme “Our Actions, Our Future: Cleaning Ghana after the Floods”, with the aim of mobilising citizens to clean their communities, protect the environment, and safeguard lives from future flood disasters.
According to the Presidency, the clean-up campaign is a critical national intervention, and all Ghanaians are strongly encouraged to participate.
As part of the directive, President Mahama has instructed all government appointees, including Ministers of State, Chief Executive Officers (CEOs), Members of Parliament (MPs), Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs), and Heads of Public Institutions, to leave their offices, join their communities, and personally lead the clean-up exercise.
Two-day schedule
The Presidency outlined a coordinated approach for the exercise:
- Friday, July 10: Personnel from all security agencies, Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs), and waste management companies will commence the clean-up operations.
- Saturday, July 11: Members of the general public will join the security agencies and assemblies to expand the exercise across affected communities.
Areas of focus
The clean-up exercise will concentrate on:
- Desilting choked drains to ensure the free flow of water ahead of expected heavy rains.
- Sweeping and clearing sand, weeds, and debris from major roads, streets, and highways.
- Cleaning public spaces, including markets, lorry parks, recreational parks, and communal waste collection points.
The government has also directed all MMDAs to work closely with waste management companies to provide adequate logistics, including waste trucks, gloves, shovels, and other cleaning tools at designated collection points.
Assemblies have further been instructed to ensure that all silt and refuse collected during the exercise are evacuated immediately to prevent them from being washed back into drains.
The Presidency described the initiative as both a critical intervention and a wake-up call to address poor sanitation practices that continue to worsen flooding across the country.
“For far too long, indiscriminate littering and plastic pollution have clogged our drainage systems, contributing to devastating, preventable floods that destroy livelihoods and claim precious Ghanaian lives,” the statement said.
The statement concluded by calling on Ghanaians to demonstrate the nation’s spirit of unity and responsibility by participating fully in the exercise.
“Let us rise together and show that the Ghanaian spirit of community, discipline, and unity is alive and well. Protect your home, protect your neighbour, and let us clean our beloved homeland. Clean Ghana, Save Lives.”
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