The Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs (MLGCRA) has continued its extensive unannounced inspection exercise across selected Assemblies in the Greater Accra Region ahead of the yuletide season. 

The inspection is to assess the various Assemblies’ commitment to sanitation, following the government’s declaration of a one-week national sanitation exercise. 

The delegation from the Ministry today inspected the Okaikwei North, Ga South, Ga North and the Ga Central Municipal Assemblies. 

Speaking after the tour, Mr. Ahmed Ibrahim, the Minister for MLGCRA, commended Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) for their active participation in the ongoing National Sanitation Week. 

He urged them to sustain the momentum beyond the exercise. 

Mr. Ibrahim said recent unannounced field inspections had put MMDCEs “on their feet,” noting that many of them arrived at official meetings directly from sanitation exercises, an indication of renewed commitment to improving environmental cleanliness. 

He said the approach aligned with President John Dramani Mahama’s “Resetting Ghana” agenda, which emphasised proactive leadership rather than armchair governance. 

The Minister said the National Sanitation Week, which began on Saturday, would continue until the end of the week, with the objective of ensuring that communities were not only clean but visibly improved. 

He said alongside the sanitation activities, regional ministers were distributing streetlights to MMDCEs across the country as part of a nationwide effort to brighten communities and enhance safety. 

Mr. Ibrahim said preparations were far advanced for the operationalisation of a national sanitation complaints centre, with consultants currently training staff who would man a 10-computer call centre to receive reports from the public. 

“Motorbikes have been procured and branded for sanitation monitors to relay information on filthy areas directly to the centre as well,” he added. 

He said the government was introducing a “24-hour sanitation” strategy to address congestion challenges in busy urban areas, with sweeping and street washing to be intensified during off-peak hours. 

The Minister stressed that sanitation efforts would continue even after the official sanitation week ends. 

He commended the media for its support and visibility in promoting the sanitation campaign, while urging MMDCEs to demonstrate initiative without constant supervision. 

Mr. Ibrahim cautioned that unannounced inspections would continue nationwide, insisting that internal motivation must guide leadership performance. 

He reaffirmed the government’s resolve to make Accra and the entire country cleaner, calling on all stakeholders to play their part in sustaining the sanitation drive.