Chairman of the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) and Political Adviser to the Vice President, Hon. Samuel Ofosu Ampofo, has called for the strict enforcement of environmental sanitation laws to curb indiscriminate waste disposal and reduce the risk of flooding across the country.
He made the call on Friday when he joined the Tema West Municipal Assembly’s National General Cleanup Exercise at Sakumono as part of the government’s nationwide sanitation campaign aimed at improving environmental cleanliness and preventing future floods.
The two-day National General Cleanup Exercise was announced by President John Dramani Mahama following the devastating floods of June 29, which affected several parts of Ghana, particularly the Greater Accra Region. The floods claimed at least 13 lives, displaced thousands of residents, destroyed homes and businesses, damaged public infrastructure, and exposed persistent challenges associated with poor drainage systems and indiscriminate waste disposal.
As part of the government’s response, President Mahama directed Ministers of State, Members of Parliament, Chief Executive Officers of state institutions, Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives, and heads of public institutions to leave their offices and lead cleanup exercises in their respective communities. The exercise forms part of recommendations by the government’s Post-Flood Mitigation Committee to improve sanitation, desilt drains and minimise future flood risks.
Addressing the media during the exercise, Hon. Ofosu Ampofo described the recent floods as one of the worst disasters he had witnessed in his lifetime, saying the scale of destruction underscored the urgent need for both government and citizens to act decisively.
He explained that he chose to participate in the cleanup exercise in Sakumono because it is the community where he lives. According to him, the area experienced flooding on an unprecedented scale, making it important for residents to come together to restore the environment and prevent a recurrence.
The former National Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) attributed much of the flooding to human activities, particularly the indiscriminate dumping of refuse into drains and the encroachment on the Ramsar site, which was created to receive excess floodwaters. He stressed that once drains become blocked, rainwater inevitably overflows into homes and businesses.
Hon. Ofosu Ampofo expressed satisfaction with the large turnout of residents and volunteers, describing it as a positive sign that many people now appreciate the importance of environmental sanitation. He urged Ghanaians to regard keeping their surroundings clean as a shared responsibility rather than leaving it solely to government.
He further called for intensified public education on proper waste management and appealed to the public to support President John Dramani Mahama and Vice President Prof. Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang’s initiative to ensure the nationwide cleanup campaign achieves its intended objectives.
Hon. Ofosu Ampofo also urged Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) to strictly enforce sanitation and planning laws, noting that the Local Governance Act gives assemblies the authority to prosecute offenders who violate environmental and building regulations. He expressed confidence that sustained cleanup exercises, continuous public education and firm enforcement of existing laws would significantly reduce flooding and help build cleaner, safer and more resilient communities across Ghana.
Story by Freedom Etsey Lavoe
