The Tema West Municipal Assembly on Friday joined the nationwide two-day cleanup exercise declared by President John Dramani Mahama following the devastating floods that recently affected several parts of Ghana and reportedly claimed about 13 lives in Accra.
The national exercise, scheduled for July 10 and 11, brought together residents, personnel from the Ghana Armed Forces, Ghana Police Service, Ghana National Fire Service and the Ghana Immigration Service to clear choked drains and improve sanitation in flood-prone communities. Across the country, Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives supervised the operation.
The Tema West Municipal Chief Executive, Hon. Ludwig Tey Totimeh, accompanied by the Municipal Director of the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO), Mr. Kwaku Tantantu, led the exercise and inspected cleanup activities at various locations within the municipality.
Speaking to Ahotor92.3fm reporter, Freedom Etsey Lavoe, Hon. Totimeh said Tema West had consistently organised cleanup exercises on the last Saturday of every month but noted that the President’s directive was a special intervention in response to the recent floods.
“Today is the national cleanup exercise directed by the President. Normally, in Tema West, we conduct cleanup exercises on the last Saturday of every month. However, this special exercise was necessitated by the severe flooding the country experienced a few weeks ago,” he said.
The MCE disclosed that the Flood Management Taskforce established by President Mahama had identified choked drains as one of the major causes of flooding across the country.
He said cleanup teams were deployed to key locations, including Texpo, Sakumono Estate Junction, Lashibi and Klagon, while additional teams worked simultaneously in other parts of the municipality.
According to him, the exercise revealed that many drains within the municipality were heavily silted and blocked.
Hon. Totimeh explained that the operation involved desilting, dredging and the re-engineering of major storm drains to improve the free flow of rainwater and reduce the risk of future flooding, in line with the President’s directive.
He commended the Ghana Armed Forces, Ghana Police Service, Ghana National Fire Service and the Ghana Immigration Service for their support, adding that the turnout of residents and volunteers was very encouraging.
The MCE assured residents that the cleanup campaign would not be a one-off exercise but would be sustained as part of the Assembly’s long-term flood prevention and environmental sanitation efforts.
“This exercise will not be a one-day wonder. We will continue to undertake similar activities from time to time, and the exercise will also continue tomorrow,” he stated.
The nationwide cleanup exercise forms part of the government’s efforts to strengthen flood preparedness, improve drainage infrastructure and promote environmental cleanliness in communities vulnerable to flooding during the rainy season.
Story by Freedom Etsey Lavoe
