A two-day National General Cleaning exercise will commence today in seven regions to improve sanitation and reduce the risk of flooding.

The nationwide exercise forms part of Government’s response to the devastating June 29 floods, which affected Accra and other parts of the country.

Residents will join security agencies and Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) to desilt drains, clear refuse, weed and sweep public spaces, including markets, lorry parks, recreational parks and communal waste collection points.

The exercise was announced by President John Dramani Mahama as part of measures to strengthen post-flood mitigation efforts.

MMDAs have been directed to collaborate with waste management companies to provide waste trucks, gloves, shovels and other cleaning equipment at designated collection points to support the exercise.

Mr Muntaka Mubarak, Interior Minister, The Interior Minister, told Parliament that the June 29 floods claimed about 35 lives, affected 38,802 people and destroyed more than 7,000 households.

Government has directed the Ministry of Finance to release funds to support relief operations in the affected communities.

The exercise is being organised under the auspices of the Post-Flood Mitigation Committee on the theme: “Our Actions, Our Future: Cleaning Ghana After the Floods.”

The Government Spokesperson, Mr Felix Kwakye Ofosu, said Friday was not a public holiday and urged Ministers of State, Members of Parliament, Chief Executive Officers of state institutions, political appointees and the public to participate in the exercise.

Government has attributed persistent flooding in many urban centres to indiscriminate littering and plastic pollution and has consequently reintroduced the National Sanitation Day initiative, to be observed on the first Saturday of every month.

Beyond the special clean-up exercise, citizens have been encouraged to support routine sanitation activities in their communities.

Parliament on Tuesday endorsed the President’s “General Clean up” declaration and pledged to mobilise constituents to participate in the exercise.

Some citizens have also called for the demolition of structures on waterways and stricter enforcement of environmental and physical planning laws to help reduce the impact of flooding across the country.