The Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) has commended President John Dramani Mahama, the Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs (MLGCRA), the media, Zoomlion Ghana Limited and citizens for the successful execution of the two-day National Clean-Up Exercise held on July 10 and 11.
In a statement, the Association described the nationwide exercise as timely and necessary following the devastating June 29 floods, which affected seven regions, claimed lives, displaced families and caused extensive damage to homes, businesses and critical infrastructure.
The GJA said the exercise successfully mobilised citizens, institutions and communities to restore environmental cleanliness while strengthening the country’s resolve to tackle persistent sanitation challenges.
The Association particularly praised President Mahama for leading the exercise in person, describing his participation as a demonstration of exemplary leadership that inspired thousands of Ghanaians to volunteer in support of the campaign.
It noted that the President of the GJA, Albert Kwabena Dwumfour, joined the President, government officials and volunteers during the exercise, reaffirming the Association’s commitment to promoting environmental sustainability, responsible citizenship and national development.
The GJA also commended the Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, Regional Coordinating Councils, sanitation agencies, traditional authorities, security services, civil society organisations, youth groups and community volunteers for their coordinated efforts, which contributed to the success of the nationwide exercise.
The Association reserved special praise for the Ghanaian media, applauding journalists and media organisations for their extensive public education campaigns before and during the exercise.
According to the statement, television stations, radio stations, newspapers and online news platforms devoted significant airtime and publication space to educating the public, providing updates and encouraging citizens to actively participate in the clean-up exercise.
The GJA further commended journalists who left their newsrooms to report directly from affected communities, saying their work reflected the highest ideals of civic and development journalism by informing, educating and inspiring citizens to contribute to national development.
The Association urged media organisations to sustain coverage of sanitation, environmental protection, climate resilience and disaster preparedness, while continuing to investigate the causes of flooding, expose environmental degradation and promote responsible waste management.
It also lauded Zoomlion Ghana Limited and the Executive Chairman of the Jospong Group of Companies, Dr Joseph Siaw Agyepong, for deploying sanitation personnel, trucks, heavy-duty equipment and opening waste treatment and recycling facilities to support the nationwide clean-up campaign. The GJA said the company’s contribution demonstrated the vital role of the private sector in promoting environmental sustainability.
While celebrating the success of the exercise, the Association stressed that achieving lasting national cleanliness would require continuous behavioural change rather than periodic clean-up campaigns.
It urged Ghanaians to make cleanliness a daily habit by properly disposing of waste, keeping drains free from refuse and supporting initiatives aimed at protecting the environment and preventing future flooding.
The GJA called on all citizens to embrace environmental responsibility as a civic duty, expressing confidence that sustained leadership, media advocacy and collective action would help build cleaner, safer and more resilient communities across the country.
