The exercise, declared by President John Dramani Mahama, is being held under the theme “Our Actions, Our Future: Cleaning Ghana after the Floods.” It aims to clear debris, desilt drains, and disinfect flood-affected markets and public places to reduce the risk of disease outbreaks and further flooding before the next heavy rains.

Two-Day Schedule

Speaking at a press briefing on July 9, Mr Ibrahim detailed the lineup:

• Friday, July 10 – All government institutions, private institutions, security services, Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs), and waste management companies are to participate. Personnel from the military, police, fire service, prison service, and customs service are all taking part.
• Saturday, July 11 – Communities, residents, and security services, with support from MMDAs and waste management companies.
  
  

The exercise runs from 6:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. on both days. “Tomorrow when we start at 6 o'clock in the morning, we will close at 1 p.m.,” the Minister stated, explaining that the extended hours would ensure effectiveness.

Mandatory Implementation Directives

To ensure a coordinated nationwide effort, the government issued the following directives:

1. Regional Coordinating Councils (RCCs) – Headed by regional ministers, RCCs shall coordinate overall implementation within their regions, liaise with environmental service providers for timely deployment of equipment and logistics, ensure equitable distribution of resources to participating MMDAs, and submit regional situational reports to the ministry.

“If you are in the Ashanti region, you must coordinate and ensure all the 43 MMDAs in the region are taking part,” Mr Ibrahim emphasised. “If you are from Greater Accra, you must make sure there is deployment of logistics in all the 29 MMDAs.”

Community Participation and Enforcement

The Minister stressed that the exercise is community-based, urging residents to focus on their own frontages and desilt their own drains. “Don't leave your frontage and go and be doing somebody's frontage,” he warned. “If there is an outbreak, you will be at risk in your frontage or in your community or in your house.”

Security agencies have been directed to enforce the presidential order, with the Chief of the Defence Staff, Inspector-General of Police, and Controller-General of Immigration all committed to supporting the operation. Mr Ibrahim warned that traders who open their shops during the exercise would face consequences. “If a President speaks and you want to take it for granted, the law will deal with you,” he said.

The exercise covers the Greater Accra, Volta, Central, Western, Western North, Ashanti, and Eastern regions. The June 29 floods claimed at least 12 lives and affected about 38,800 people. President Mahama has directed all government appointees, including ministers, MPs, and chief executives, to leave their offices and lead clean-up activities in their respective communities.