Ghanaian actress and socialite Efia Odo has commended President John Dramani Mahama’s national clean-up exercise initiative but called for a more sustainable approach to addressing the country’s sanitation challenges.
In an open message to the President, Efia Odo said while national clean-up exercises are a step in the right direction, they must be supported by a functional sanitation system to achieve lasting results.
She argued that encouraging citizens to keep their surroundings clean would be difficult without adequate waste management infrastructure, including public bins and reliable waste collection services.
According to her, a long-term solution requires making it easier for people to dispose of waste responsibly through consistent collection systems and accessible waste disposal points.
“Mr President, a national clean-up exercise is a good initiative, but it won’t solve the problem without a proper sanitation system. We need bins on our streets, regular waste collection, and a system that makes it easy for people to do the right thing,” she wrote.
Efia Odo’s comments come as Ghana undertakes a two-day National Flood Aftermath Clean-up Exercise aimed at restoring communities affected by recent flooding and improving sanitation across the country.
The exercise, being implemented in seven flood-affected regions, is aimed at clearing debris, cleaning drains, improving sanitation and supporting the restoration of affected communities.
It involves state institutions, private organisations, security agencies, communities and residents, with non-essential businesses directed to close during the exercise to allow for full participation.
