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King Tackie Teiko Tsuru II, the Ga Mantse, has initiated the Homowo Clean-up exercise, mandating the closure of all shops on the day of the event.
“We expect all shops and businesses in the designated area to close on the day of the exercise. We also urge leaders of various groups and associations to participate fully,” declared the Ga Mantse during the launch at the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) on Friday, June 21, 2024.
The clean-up campaign, themed “Let’s Keep Accra Clean,” will commence on July 2 and run for one month. Its goals are to enhance waste management practices, improve environmental cleanliness, and foster a sense of community responsibility towards environmental stewardship.
The initiative, a collaboration between the Ga Traditional Council (GTC) and various government agencies, will be conducted across all 25 local government authorities in the Greater Accra Region. Activities will include household registration for organized waste collection services, education on waste management techniques, and enforcement of bylaws to ensure adherence to waste management regulations.
The Ga Mantse stressed the importance of keeping the exercise apolitical, noting that environmental cleanliness is a universal concern. He urged all residents to comply with sanitation bylaws, clean their frontages, gutters, and premises, and called for the revival of communal labor and heightened public education on sanitation.
He also issued a stern warning to those who fail to follow sanitation bylaws, stating that a special task force would be deployed to arrest offenders and enforce the law. “The Assemblies should also take up their responsibilities by making refuse bins available and at vantage points,” he added.
An exciting feature of the campaign is the introduction of sanitation competitions, with schools, communities, markets, and lorry stations competing for top honors. These awards aim to motivate participants, fostering a spirit of friendly competition and community pride.
King Tackie Teiko Tsuru II also appealed to corporate institutions in the capital to adopt sustainable practices and green policies prioritizing environmental wellbeing.
In support of the initiative, collaborating government ministries pledged their resources and expertise. The Accra Mayor, Elizabeth K.T. Sackey, emphasized the importance of a clean environment for safety and security, praising the Ga Mantse’s involvement: “His Majesty’s participation underscores the gravity of this issue and the collective responsibility we must embrace to create a cleaner, healthier Accra for all.”
Deputy Minister of Local Government, Decentralisation and Rural Development (MLGDRD), Vincent Ekow Assafuah, lauded the Ga Mantse’s leadership and contributions to Accra’s cleanliness. He highlighted the cultural significance of the Homowo festival, noting its deep roots in cleanliness and community pride.
Minister of Sanitation and Water Resources (MSWR), Lydia Seyram Alhassan, announced her ministry’s readiness for the clean-up exercise, with resources including 30 compaction trucks, over 30 tricycles, thousands of Wellington boots, 15,000 security personnel, a dedicated task force, and environmental health officers to enforce sanitation bylaws. She urged all Accra citizens to actively participate in the campaign.
Greater Accra Regional Minister, Daniel Nii Kwartei Titus-Glover, commended the efforts of his predecessor and expressed gratitude to the Ga Traditional Council (GTC) for reviving the ‘Keep Accra Clean’ campaign. He noted that the exercise would be implemented in phases, with the first phase launching on July 2 in the Accra metropolitan area. “We have mobilized resources and forged partnerships to ensure the success of the clean-up exercise,” he assured.
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