This initiative, spearheaded by the Greater Accra Regional Coordinating Council (GARCC) in collaboration with the Ga Traditional Council (GTC) and supported by the Ministry of Local Government, Decentralisation and Rural Development, Ministry of Sanitation and Water Resources, Ministry for Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation and Zoomlion Ghana Limited. An initiative to address sanitation challenges in the Greater Accra Region and promote a cleaner environment ahead of the annual Homowo festival has been launched.
The Launch was held at the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) on Friday June 21st, under the theme “Unite to Clean”, the initiative dubbed the “Homowo Clean-Up Exercise” is scheduled to commence on July 2 and run until August 20, 2024.This will begin from the Accra Metropolis, specifically Ga Mashie, to the Korle Klottey Municipal Assembly, among other Assemblies in the region.
His Royal Majesty, King Tackie Teiko Tsuru II, who officially launched the 2024 Homowo Clean-Up Exercise, called for collective action and responsibility in addressing environmental degradation across the Greater Accra Region.
The King outlined expectations for the clean-up exercise, noting that all shops and businesses in the designated areas would be closed on the day of the event, King Tackie Teiko Tsuru II urged residents to adhere strictly to sanitation bye-laws and called for violators to face the full rigours of the law without external interventions.
The King also appealed to corporate bodies to adopt healthy green policies and beautify the capital while calling on the Advertising Association of Ghana (AAG) to work with local authorities to declutter billboards and remove unauthorised advertising materials to improve the city’s aesthetics.
The Greater Accra Regional Minister, Hon Daniel Nii Kwartei Titus-Glover, detailed the resources mobilised for the campaign, including 30 compaction trucks, over 30 motorised cycles (Borla Taxis), and various cleaning equipment.
He also mentioned the deployment of approximately 1,500 security personnel and a dedicated task force comprising Asafoatsemei, Environmental Health Officers, and community members to enforce sanitation regulations and uphold cleanliness standards.
“Let us roll up our sleeves, equip ourselves, and pledge to make a lasting impact,” he stated. “Together, we can achieve our vision of making Accra one of the cleanest cities in Africa,” he said.
The Mayor of Accra, Hon. Elizabeth Kwatsoe Sackey noted that the Greater Accra Metropolitan Area generates approximately four thousand metric tonnes of municipal waste daily, a figure that was expected to rise with the growing population and economic activities, hence the “calls for more pragmatic measures to be put in place to ensure that His Excellency, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo’s vision to see Accra becoming the cleanest city in Africa becomes a reality.”
Hon. Lydia Seyram Alhassan, Minister of Sanitation and Water Resources, mentioned the establishment of a sanitation committee tasked with overseeing sanitation activities, fostering community involvement, and ensuring sustainable practices in various municipalities.
The Traditional Authorities, Policymakers, Member of Parliament (MPs), Civil Servants, Sanitation Ambassadors and Religious Leaders among others were also present the launch of the clean-up campaign.