Accra: All Shops To Shut Down On July 2 For Homowo Clean-Up Exercise | Social

The Ga Mantse, King Tackie Teiko Tsuru II, has launched the Homowo Clean-up exercise and says all shops must remain closed on the day of the exercise. 

“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,” the Ga Mantse said when he launched the initiative at the premises of the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) on Friday, June 21, 2024.

The clean-up exercise is expected to start on July 2.

The one-month campaign, themed “Let’s Keep Accra Clean”, aims to promote good waste management practices, improve environmental cleanliness, and instill a sense of community ownership and responsibility towards environmental stewardship.

The exercise, a collaboration between the Ga Traditional Council (GTC), and other government agencies will take place in all the 25 local government authorities within the Greater Accra Region. 

It will involve household registration for organised waste collection services, education on waste management techniques, and enforcement of bye-laws to ensure compliance with waste management regulations.

The Ga Mantse warned against the politicisation of the exercise, emphasising that environmental cleanliness affects everyone regardless of political affiliations. 

He urged all residents to adhere strictly to sanitation by-laws, clean their frontages, gutters, and premises, and called for the reintroduction of communal labor and intensified public education on sanitation.

He also issued a stern warning to those who refuse to comply with the sanitation by-laws, stating that a special task force will be deployed to arrest offenders and ensure they face the full force of the law. 

“The Assemblies should also take up their responsibilities by making refuse bins available and at vantage points,” he urged.
         
He announced an exciting twist to the clean-up campaign—sanitation competitions, stating that schools, communities, markets, and lorry stations will vie for the top spot, with awards up for grabs for the cleanest. 

These awards will motivate participants to go the extra mile, fostering a spirit of friendly competition and community pride, he said.

To this end, King Tackie Teiko Tsuru II took the opportunity to issue a rallying cry to corporate institutions in the capital, urging them to embrace sustainable practices and green policies that prioritise environmental wellbeing. 

In a show of support, collaborating government ministries pledged their resources and expertise to ensure the initiative’s success, demonstrating their commitment to a cleaner, greener Accra.