President John Dramani Mahama has reaffirmed his commitment to environmental hygiene and civic responsibility through the relaunch of the National Sanitation Day, laying out an ambitious vision for its impact on health, national identity, and economic development.

Speaking at the launch of the National Sanitation Day, Mr Mahama expressed hope that the monthly clean-up exercise would do more than just rid communities of waste; it would, he said, rebuild a culture of shared responsibility and environmental consciousness.

“It is our expectation that the National Sanitation Day will help us achieve the following objectives,” he declared.

He further listed a range of key goals the initiative aims to accomplish:

• Promote awareness, instil a sense of ownership and participation, and encourage community-led efforts across the country;
• Establish and sustain a culture of regular cleaning and maintenance of both public and private spaces;
• Enhance the aesthetic beauty of cities and towns to boost national pride and responsible behaviour;
• Improve environmental sanitation and hygiene practices, reducing disease outbreaks by breaking the chain of disease transmission;
• Support economic development, particularly in the tourism sector, by projecting Ghana as a clean and welcoming destination.

Mr Mahama linked the campaign directly to Ghana’s broader development agenda, noting its alignment with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

“I am fully convinced that the National Sanitation Day will in no small way contribute to the attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly those that prioritise health and wellbeing, sustainable cities, clean water and sanitation, climate action, and ocean and land conservation,” he stated.

He described the initiative as a collective commitment to building a cleaner, safer, and more resilient Ghana, not only for the current generation but also for generations to come.

The National Sanitation Day will now be observed on the first Saturday of every month, and citizens, local authorities, businesses, and civil society organisations are all being urged to take part actively.