TWO DAYS OF CLEAN-UP ARE NOT ENOUGH," SAYS BEKWAI MP HON. RALPH POKU-ADUSEI

Following the devastating floods of June 29, 2026, which claimed lives and destroyed properties across parts of Ghana, concerns continue to grow over the environmental and sanitation challenges left in their wake. In response to the disaster, President John Dramani Mahama declared Friday, July 10, and Saturday, July 11, 2026, as National Clean-Up Exercise Days to help restore affected communities and reduce public health risks. Speaking in a telephone interview with Nana Nhyiraba Kwabena Asirifi on the Ghana Nti Morning Show, the Member of Parliament for Bekwai, Hon. Ralph Poku-Adusei, shared his views on the nationwide clean-up exercise. Hon. Poku-Adusei, a lawyer and Member of Parliament representing the Bekwai Constituency in the Ashanti Region, argued that while the initiative is commendable, two days of clean-up are insufficient to address Ghana's long-standing sanitation challenges. According to the MP, waste generation is a continuous process that requires consistent and sustainable management rather than occasional clean-up campaigns. He stressed that maintaining effective waste management is primarily the responsibility of government and should be supported by long-term policies and adequate investment. Hon. Poku-Adusei further stated that contracts between the government and some waste management service providers have expired, creating uncertainty over payments and affecting service delivery. He suggested that this situation has contributed to declining waste collection and management, the effects of which have become more evident following the recent floods. He called on the government to move beyond political considerations and adopt practical, long-term policies that strengthen the country's waste management system. He also urged authorities to provide clear assurances to sanitation service providers to enable them to carry out their work effectively. The Bekwai MP concluded by emphasizing that clean-up exercises should become a regular national practice rather than a response only to emergencies, noting that sustained sanitation efforts are essential to keeping communities clean, protecting public health, and preventing future environmental disasters.