The Minister for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, Ahmed Ibrahim, has directed shop and store owners across the country to close their businesses and actively participate in the National General Cleaning Days scheduled for Friday, July 10, and Saturday, July 11, 2026.
The exercise, announced by government in response to the devastating floods that recently affected several parts of the country, forms part of a nationwide effort to restore sanitation, reduce health risks and strengthen flood prevention measures.
Addressing stakeholders ahead of the exercise, the Minister stressed that the clean-up campaign is a national assignment that requires the participation of every citizen, warning that no commercial activities should take place during the two-day exercise.
According to him, all political activities must also be suspended to allow citizens to focus entirely on the clean-up operation.
“All political activities must be suspended; everybody must be on board; all markets and shops must be closed,” he declared.
Ahmed Ibrahim disclosed that the operation has the full backing of the country’s security agencies, including the military, police and immigration authorities, to ensure strict compliance.
“The CDS is on board, the IGP is on board and the Controller General for Immigration is on board. So if you go and open your shop, you will be on fire. This is not just the normal thing that we’ve been doing,” he cautioned.
The Minister further warned that anyone who disregards the directive could face legal consequences, insisting that the President’s order should not be taken lightly.
“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. All shops will be closed. All markets will be closed,” he stated.
Preventing disease outbreaks
Ahmed Ibrahim explained that the closure of markets is necessary because many trading centres were inundated during the recent floods, leaving behind debris, mud and contaminants that pose significant public health risks.
He said the clean-up exercise would involve sweeping, clearing waste and disinfecting affected market spaces to prevent outbreaks of diseases that could arise if trading resumes without proper sanitation.
“The flood entered most of the markets. If we don’t close them and sweep and collect all the debris and disinfect most of the places, they will be buying and selling those things for us to eat, and there will be outbreaks of diseases,” he noted.
The Minister also urged technical officers and local authorities to develop effective implementation plans to ensure the exercise achieves its intended objectives.
The National General Cleaning Days is being organised by the government through the Post-Flood Mitigation Committee under the theme, “Our Actions, Our Future: Cleaning Ghana after the floods.”
The initiative seeks to mobilise citizens across the country to restore environmental cleanliness while implementing measures aimed at preventing future flooding.
Government has described the exercise as a critical national intervention following the recent floods and has appealed to all Ghanaians to actively participate in protecting lives, property and public health.
To ensure effective implementation, all Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs), Chief Executive Officers of state institutions, Members of Parliament and other government appointees have been directed to personally lead clean-up exercises within their respective jurisdictions.
Authorities believe the nationwide exercise will not only improve sanitation in flood-affected communities but also help minimise the risk of future flooding and the spread of waterborne diseases.
By 1960news.com
