Accra: The Ningo-Prampram District Assembly (NiPDA) has engaged in the National Sanitation Day exercise to address the impact of recent floods and mitigate the risk of disease outbreaks. The initiative began at 0700 hours on Friday, witnessing the collaboration of NiPDA officials, the Ghana Police Service, Ghana National Fire Service, the Ghana Navy, Zoomlion Ghana Limited, and local community members.
According to Ghana News Agency, Mr. Raphael Uriel Nartey, the Ningo-Prampram District Chief Executive (DCE), stated that the exercise was in response to President John Dramani Mahama's call for a nationwide sanitation campaign following the floods. NiPDA, along with security services and Zoomlion, provided essential logistics such as wheelbarrows, cutlasses, and rakes to support the operation. Mr. Nartey observed an increase in participation compared to regular monthly clean-ups, attributing it to the community's recognition of the urgency to address flood-related debris.
The affected communities, including Prampram Landing Beach, Afienya, Old Ningo, Awiam, and Omankope, faced significant debris accumulation due to floodwaters. Mr. Nartey urged residents to maintain cleanliness and avoid disposing of waste in drains and water bodies to prevent future flooding and disease outbreaks. He emphasized the importance of environmental responsibility, remarking, "The recent floods should serve as a lesson to all of us. Keeping our environment clean is a shared responsibility."
Madam Evelyn Nani, the District Environmental Health Officer, highlighted the focus on clearing waste at Prampram Landing Beach and unclogging drains leading to the shore. She praised the community's active involvement, noting an improvement in turnout compared to past efforts. "In the past, it was sometimes difficult to get community members involved in these exercises. Going forward, we intend to involve the security services in our monthly clean-up activities to sustain public participation," she added.
Madam Nani mentioned that the assembly plans to strengthen the enforcement of sanitation by-laws and has formed a task force to monitor environmental cleanliness. Although the district has not reported any disease outbreaks post-floods, proactive measures have been taken to remove waste from unauthorized dumping sites. Additionally, inspections revealed structures erected on waterways that contributed to flooding. The National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) has marked these structures for removal to restore natural water flow.