FABAG Seeks Urgent Clarity on Sanitation Exercise in Flooded Areas of Accra
The Food and Beverage Association of Ghana (FABAG) is calling on government and relevant authorities to provide immediate clarity on the upcoming sanitation exercise scheduled for flooded areas in Accra and other affected regions.
In an urgent press release dated Ref: RFL/GoGF/GSEC/042, the Association said the communiqué issued regarding the exercise, set for Friday, July 10 and Saturday, July 11, 2026, was “not specific on the duration of time and very ambiguous in nature.”
FABAG, which represents hundreds of food and beverage businesses, retailers, and supermarkets across the country, says the lack of detail is creating confusion for employers and employees, especially those outside the directly affected zones.
5 Key Questions FABAG Wants Answered
The Association has outlined five critical areas where it needs urgent direction:
1. Is it a public holiday?
Businesses need to know whether Friday and Saturday should be observed as work-free days or if operations can continue.
2. Which specific areas will the exercise take place?
FABAG says traders and workers need clear demarcation of the communities earmarked for the sanitation exercise to avoid unnecessary shutdowns.
3. At what time are citizens allowed to resume work?
Retailers and food vendors want to know the exact time traders and workers can return to work after the exercise each day.
4. Is participation mandatory for all employees?
The Association is asking whether employers are required to release staff to join the exercise, “irrespective of where they live,” to avoid penalizing workers who may be outside the affected areas.
5. Can businesses outside the flood zone operate?
Specifically, FABAG wants to know if supermarkets and shops located outside the flooding zones can remain open, and at what time they can begin operations.
“We Must Avoid Harassment of Business People”
FABAG noted that while it supports the national call for a clean-up exercise, proper guidelines are needed to ensure the process is not abused.
“Though it is a national call, it has to be addressed properly to ensure no unscrupulous individual or people take advantage to harass business people, especially retail traders,” the release stated.
The Association expressed concern that without clear directives, workers could be punished for lateness or absence, even if they reside outside the flooded areas. It stressed that “every citizen was largely affected” by the recent floods, and therefore rules must be applied fairly and transparently.
Background: Floods Trigger Mass Clean-up Call
The sanitation exercise comes in the wake of heavy rains that led to flooding in several parts of Accra and other regions, destroying homes, goods, and infrastructure. Government and local authorities have called for a mass clean-up to prevent disease outbreaks and clear choked drains.
However, stakeholders in the retail and food sector say similar exercises in the past have often led to confusion, lost revenue, and confrontations between taskforces and business owners due to vague instructions.
FABAG’s Appeal
FABAG is urging the Ministry of Sanitation, Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs), and security agencies to issue a detailed directive before the exercise begins tomorrow.
The Association said clear communication will help businesses plan, protect workers from unfair treatment, and ensure the exercise achieves its public health objective without crippling economic activity.
“We are ready to support national efforts to clean our environment. What we need now is clarity so that our members and their staff are not unfairly affected,” FABAG stated.
As at the time of filing this report, no official response had been issued by the Ministry of Sanitation or the Accra Metropolitan Assembly.
