Post-clean-up exercise: Military, other services to continue dredging waterways — Mahama

President John Dramani Mahama has announced that the military and other state services will continue dredging major waterways after the National Cleaning Exercise to improve drainage systems and tackle flooding.

The President said the move forms part of broader efforts to restore the capacity of drains and create proper outlets for floodwaters to flow into wetlands.

He made the announcement after participating in the opening day of the National Cleaning Exercise at Tse Ado in Accra on Friday, July 10, where he participated in desilting works and assessed the state of drainage channels.

“After this, the military and other services are going to continue to dredge the main waterways so that these drains can have an outlet to send the water to those wetlands, and so this will be a continuous exercise," said the President.

President Mahama said the exercise had revealed the extent of plastic waste and years of accumulated silt blocking drains across the country.

He explained that the reduced capacity of drainage systems due to siltation has contributed to flooding, stressing the need for proper disposal of waste and removed silt.

“Look at the plastics that we are taking out of it. Apart from that, the silt there clearly did not happen in one year; it means this has been silted for so many years, so it reduces the capacity of the drain to carry water," he noted.

The President cautioned against leaving removed silt along roadsides after clean-up exercises, noting that rainfall often washes the waste back into drains.

He also called for sustained sanitation efforts, urging Ghanaians to set aside at least one day every month to clean their communities.

President Mahama said collaboration between citizens and waste management companies will help maintain cleaner cities and reduce the risk of flooding.