Mahama Relaunches National Sanitation Day, Calls for “Renewed Social Contract” with Citizens

President John Dramani Mahama today officially relaunched the National Sanitation Day initiative, declaring it a “renewed social contract between the government and citizens” as Ghana tackles mounting environmental challenges.

Speaking at the relaunch ceremony, President Mahama emphasized the critical role of community participation in addressing the nation’s sanitation crisis.

“We must inculcate in our children the spirit and awareness of cleanliness,” the President declared, outlining comprehensive reforms to transform Ghana’s approach to environmental sanitation

Addressing Historical Challenges:

The President acknowledged the decline of traditional cleanliness practices, noting how modern lifestyles have eroded communal cleaning habits that were once central to Ghanaian culture.

“Today, the spirit of voluntarism is dying,” Mahama observed, while praising dedicated youth groups( Bus Stop Boys) who continue to volunteer for community cleanliness despite limited resources.

The initiative comes as Ghana grapples with serious sanitation-related health risks. “Improper waste disposal, poor drainage management, indiscriminately train and weak enforcement of sanitation bylaws have led to grave consequences, including outbreak of cholera, malaria, typhoid and other sanitation related diseases,” the President explained.

Innovative Solutions and Enforcement:

President Mahama announced several groundbreaking measures, including plans to establish sanitation courts within traditional palaces.

“I believe that in every community there is a chief, and so if in every community there is a chief, we can put a sanitation court in the palace of the chief,” he stated, emphasizing collaboration between traditional authorities and district assemblies to address persistent polluters.

The President also revealed plans for constitutional amendments to restore some traditional powers to chiefs, particularly regarding environmental and sanitation matters. “I am in favor of restoring some of the authority back to chiefs, especially in respect of our environment and sanitation,” he declared .

Educational Reforms and Youth Engagement:

Highlighting the importance of early education, President Mahama announced plans to introduce a new curriculum focusing on courtesy and responsible citizenship in schools.

“I remember when I was young,” the President reflected, referencing historical civic education that taught proper behavior and citizenship values. The new curriculum aims to train children “from basic school through secondary school” in cleanliness and responsible citizenship .

Nationwide Implementation:

The National Sanitation Day will be observed simultaneously across all 16 regions and 261 metropolitan, municipal, and district assemblies on the first Saturday of every month. The initiative includes establishing a dedicated sanitation hotline and central dashboard to track performance across all assemblies.

Recognition for Volunteers:

During the ceremony, President Mahama recognized community volunteers, particularly youth groups( Boys Stop Boys) who have been maintaining city cleanliness using their own resources.

“We decided today to recognize this selfless, community spirited young people who for several years using their own resources, their energy and strength, continue to volunteer to keep our city clean,” he announced, presenting cleaning equipment including 200 wheelbarrows, 300 brooms, and 300 hand gloves to support their efforts.

Call for Collective Action

The President concluded with a powerful call for nationwide participation: “Let all of us be watchdogs of sanitation and the environment,” emphasizing that environmental sanitation requires “consistent and collective action for individuals, stakeholders, communities and institutions”.

The relaunch represents Ghana’s most comprehensive approach to tackling sanitation challenges, combining traditional authority, modern enforcement mechanisms, and community engagement in what President Mahama described as a crucial initiative for national health and dignity.

The National Sanitation Day initiative will commence on the first Saturday of every month, with all district assemblies expected to participate in coordinated cleanup activities nationwide.