The Deputy Chief Executive (Agronomy and Quality Control) of the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD), Dr Francis Baah, has called on Ghanaians to embrace a sustained culture of cleanliness, insisting that the ongoing two-day national clean-up exercise must not become a "nine-day wonder."
Dr Baah made the call on Friday when he led management and staff of COCOBOD in a massive clean-up exercise at the COCOBOD head office and the entire Accra Central business district, in line with President John Dramani Mahama's directive for a general clean-up in all flood-affected regions.
The exercise, which continues today, saw staff desilting choked gutters, sweeping the frontage of the COCOBOD building, and clearing large quantities of plastic waste and debris that had accumulated following last week's heavy downpours.
In an interview with the Daily Graphic after the exercise, Dr Baah commended the President for the initiative but stressed that the real test lies in sustaining the momentum.
"We must not treat this as a one-off event," he said. "This should be the beginning of a permanent cultural shift. I call on all Ghanaians to be disciplined and law-abiding. We must question our own motives towards our own country."
Drawing a sharp contrast between attitudes at home and abroad, Dr Baah challenged citizens to show the same respect for Ghana's sanitation laws as they do for those in Europe and America.
"You go to Europe and America and you respect their sanitation laws and other regulations. You keep those places clean for fear of being punished or deported," he observed. "Why do you do this to your own country? Why don't you respect your own laws and regard your own country with the same commitment?"
The COCOBOD Deputy CEO traced his personal upbringing as a model of the values he preaches. Recalling his childhood in the Eastern Region, he said his family always took pride in regularly cleaning their surroundings and homes.
"That culture of personal responsibility is what we need to revive," Dr Baah added. "It starts from the home, from the individual. If every Ghanaian takes ownership of the space around them, we will not wait for a national directive to keep our cities clean."
He praised President Mahama for conceiving the idea of a nationwide clean-up and urged Ghanaians to protect the environment for future generations.
"We must protect this country and keep our environment clean," he charged.
The clean-up exercise at Accra Central forms part of the broader Post-Flood Mitigation Committee's efforts, being carried out in seven regions—Greater Accra, Volta, Central, Western, Western North, Ashanti and Eastern. The initiative has drawn participation from ministers, Members of Parliament, MMDCEs, heads of state institutions, and members of the public.
Markets and shops remain closed for the two-day period to allow for thorough desilting, refuse removal and disinfection of flood-affected trading centres. President Mahama has also called for the establishment of a monthly national clean-up day to prevent future flooding and improve public health.
Dr Baah's call for continuity echoes the President's own vision—that Ghana's sanitation challenges cannot be solved in two days, but require a fundamental change in attitude and behaviour.
