Speaker of Parliament Alban Bagbin has called on Members of Parliament (MPs) to actively participate in the National General Clean-up Exercise declared by President John Dramani Mahama following the devastating June 29 floods.
Addressing Parliament on Tuesday, July 7, Mr Bagbin urged MPs, particularly those representing flood-affected constituencies, to mobilise their constituents, Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs), traditional authorities, religious organisations, youth groups and civil society organisations to ensure the success of the exercise.
The two-day nationwide cleanup, scheduled for Friday, July 10, and Saturday, July 11, will be held under the theme, “Our Actions, Our Future: Cleaning Ghana after the floods.” The exercise is aimed at restoring affected communities, improving sanitation and reducing the risk of future flooding.
According to the Speaker, the initiative presents an opportunity for lawmakers to demonstrate leadership and support recovery efforts in communities affected by the floods.
Mr Bagbin described sanitation as a matter that goes beyond public health, stressing that it is essential for environmental protection, national resilience and responsible citizenship.
“The recent floods have once again reminded us that clogged drains, indiscriminate disposal of refuse and encroachment upon waterways continue to expose our communities to avoidable disasters,” he said.
“As the Legislature, we bear both a constitutional and moral responsibility to provide leadership within our constituencies. Our constituents expect us not only to legislate on matters of national importance, but also to stand with them in times of difficulty and to lead by personal example,” he added.
To enable MPs to take part in the exercise, the Speaker announced that Parliament will suspend sitting on Friday, July 10.
He explained that the decision was reached after consultations with the leadership of the House, who unanimously agreed that MPs should be allowed to return to their constituencies to participate in the national intervention.
The June 29 floods affected several communities across seven regions, resulting in the loss of lives, displacement of residents and widespread destruction of homes and property.
Government has since rolled out a series of recovery and mitigation measures, including the nationwide cleanup exercise, as part of efforts to improve sanitation, restore affected communities and strengthen flood prevention measures.
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