The Mayor of Accra, Michael Kpakpo Allotey, has called on traders to prioritize cleanliness as part of their daily routine. He made this appeal at Rawlings Park in Accra on Saturday, October 3, 2026, during the Accra Metropolitan Assembly's (AMA) flagship clean-up exercise to commemorate World Cleanup Day 2026. The exercise was held under the global theme, "From Clean Plates to Clean Cities," and Ghana's national theme, "National Sanitation Day: Local Actions Yielding National Impact."
Mayor Allotey emphasized that maintaining clean trading spaces is crucial for the well-being of traders and the community. He likened cleaning up after trading to washing plates after meals, a routine practice in households. The Mayor stressed that the AMA's sanitation efforts aim to create a healthy environment for traders to work and earn a living without being exposed to preventable health risks.
The Minister for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, Mahama Ayariga, announced plans to improve Ghana's waste management system. He said the government will provide households with separate waste bins, replace open-bucket waste tricycles, and establish waste transfer stations across Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies. All MMDAs have been given 30 days to identify suitable sites for the construction of waste transfer stations.
King Tackie Teiko Tsuru II, Captain Nii Kojo Nseni Mankattah IV, Asafoatse Onukpa of the Ga State, speaking on behalf of the Ga Mantse, appealed to residents and traders to take responsibility for keeping public spaces clean. He expressed concern that areas cleaned during organized exercises often become littered again within hours. The Ga Mantse urged residents to discourage indiscriminate dumping and challenge litterers to dispose of their waste properly.
The clean-up exercise brought together officials from the Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, the AMA, traditional authorities, market women, youth groups, sanitation workers, and other stakeholders. The organizers aimed to clean public spaces and reinforce the need for a sustained culture of sanitation across communities.
Mayor Allotey observed some positive changes in traders' attitudes, including voluntary sweeping and cleaning of their surroundings during business hours. He encouraged them to sustain this behavior and make it part of their daily operations. The Mayor emphasized that traders should focus on making profits and taking their earnings home, rather than spending on treating illnesses associated with poor sanitation.
The government's integrated system will cover household waste collection, transfer, final disposal, and recycling to address weaknesses in the sector. The Minister for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, Mahama Ayariga, assured that the government is working to strengthen the waste management chain.
Key points
- The Accra Mayor urged traders to make cleanliness a daily habit beyond National Sanitation Day exercises.
- The government plans to improve Ghana's waste management system by providing separate waste bins and establishing waste transfer stations.
- The clean-up exercise aimed to reinforce the need for a sustained culture of sanitation across communities.
