Minister Mahama Ayariga and Mayor Allotey Lead Accra Sanitation Drive; New Hourly Sweeping Directive for Traders

The Minister for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, Mahama Ayariga, joined the Mayor of Accra, Michael Kpakpo Allotey, on September 5, 2026, to spearhead the September edition of National Sanitation Day (NSD). The high-level inspection covered the heart of Accra’s Central Business District (CBD), stretching from the Kinbu Traffic Light through Tudu. The exercise was designed to evaluate public compliance and encourage a culture of cleanliness among the city's business community and residents. During the event, Minister Ayariga took a hands-on approach to leadership by actively participating in the cleanup, sweeping sections of the street and collecting litter alongside local traders. He emphasized that maintaining a clean environment is a collective duty that requires the active cooperation of the government, private businesses, and individual citizens. Mayor Allotey briefed the Minister on current participation levels, noting the progress made while highlighting the need for sustained efforts to keep the capital’s commercial hubs free of waste. In a significant move to ensure that the impact of the National Sanitation Day extends beyond the monthly event, Mayor Allotey issued a new directive requiring traders in the CBD to sweep their immediate surroundings every hour. This instruction aims to prevent the accumulation of waste during business hours and to uphold the sanitation standards achieved during the monthly cleanup. Allotey stressed that clean practices must become a continuous habit rather than an occasional activity, urging traders to take full responsibility for the cleanliness of their designated areas. This latest push for improved sanitation in Accra reflects the government's broader strategy to transform the city's waste management culture. By transitioning from a periodic cleanup model to a daily maintenance requirement, city authorities are signaling a more rigorous approach to urban hygiene. The success of this hourly sweeping directive will depend on consistent enforcement and the willingness of the trading community to adapt to these higher standards of environmental responsibility.