Accra looked cleaner, the environment friendlier and more welcoming as huge volumes of trash and silt began to be lifted from the system after the second day of the nationwide clean-up exercise.
With the Alajo drain now flowing freely, it signalled a major success for the presidential edict for a two-day national cleanup exercise, occasioned by the June 29 flooding that claimed lives and destroyed property in the capital.
Around the Kwame Nkrumah Circle Interchange, Kaneshie Market, the central business district of Accra and other areas of high population, the streets of Accra looked tidier, with drains clearer than before.
This came after the final lap of the exercise in flood-affected communities continued last Saturday with sustained momentum from the previous day.
Residents, local community volunteer groups and staff of various businesses operating within communities joined hands to wind up the exercise which commenced on Friday.
Deployment
Within Accra, Afienya, Dawhenya, Kpone, Tema, La, Teshie and other parts of the Greater Accra Region, excavators were deployed to clear the debris and restore the free flow of water to prevent further flooding in various communities.
The exercise formed part of the government’s post-flood interventions aimed at improving sanitation, clearing blocked drains and reducing the risk of future flooding in affected communities.
Unlike the first day, which placed emphasis on desilting drains and clearing waste from communities, activities on the second day centred on evacuating the heaps of refuse generated from Friday’s exercise to prevent them from being washed back into drainage systems during future rains.
The exercise included clearing blocked drains, desilting gutters, and removing unauthorised structures to prevent flooding and promote public health, particularly in hotspots.
Heaped debris removed from choked drains from the previous day were collected as part of Saturday's exercise, with major drains such as the Korr bridge receiving a major dredging.
As part of the exercise, members of the Military High Command also conducted an on-site assessment of watercourses in various communities where they were deployed.
The Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs deployed 600 tricycles to transport debris collected from various locations across the affected areas to support the exercise.
The deployment followed the use of 400 tricycles on the first day of the exercise, with authorities indicating that the additional logistics would accelerate the removal of waste and ensure that the exercise achieved the intended objective.
Efforts
For instance, at Tse Addo in La, a flood-hit community, the Municipal Chief Executive of the La Dadekotopon Municipal Assembly, Alfredos Nii Anyetei, said even before the President gave the directive, the municipal assembly had earlier carried out major dredging from Friday, July 3 to Sunday, July 5, 2026 as part of its commitment to improving drainage infrastructure.
He said the exercise focused on clearing major drains in selected flood-prone communities across the municipality.
Mr Anyetei added that three excavators were deployed to remove accumulated silt, sand, refuse and other debris that had obstructed the free flow of stormwater.
He said technical officers from the Works Department and the Urban Roads Department also monitored the operations to ensure that the dredging was carried out effectively and in accordance with the required engineering standards.
"By undertaking this exercise, LaDMA aims to improve environmental sanitation, prevent the obstruction of watercourses, and safeguard lives, property, and public infrastructure from the devastating effects of floods.
"The initiative also reflects the assembly's continued dedication to creating a cleaner, healthier and more resilient municipality," he added.
The MCE further appealed to residents to support these efforts by refraining from dumping refuse into drains and by actively participating in community sanitation activities, adding that "protecting the municipality from flooding is a shared responsibility, and together, we can build a safer and cleaner La Dade-Kotopon for everyone".
