The Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) has intensified its fight against flooding and poor sanitation with the launch of “Operation Free Choked Drains,” a major clean-up exercise scheduled for Saturday, June 6, 2026.
The initiative forms part of efforts to improve environmental cleanliness, protect public health, and reduce the growing threat of flooding across Accra as the rainy season gathers momentum.
AMA Targets Flood-Prone Areas
According to the Assembly, the exercise will focus heavily on desilting drains, clearing waterways, removing refuse, and cleaning public spaces across the capital.
The operation will cover markets, lorry parks, communities, business districts, electoral areas, and all sub-metropolitan districts within Accra.
City authorities say blocked drains remain one of the biggest contributors to flooding in the capital, making this intervention critical to protecting lives, businesses, and infrastructure.
Trading Activities to Be Suspended
To ensure the smooth execution of the exercise, the AMA has announced a temporary suspension of trading activities during the clean-up period.
Market stalls, shops, hawking activities, table-top businesses, and other commercial operations are expected to halt until sanitation teams complete their work.
Officials believe the move will allow unrestricted access to drains, roads, markets, and other public spaces requiring urgent attention.
Residents Urged to Join the Exercise
The Assembly is calling on residents, traders, transport operators, corporate organisations, religious groups, youth associations, NGOs, and community leaders to actively participate in the clean-up campaign.
According to the AMA, maintaining a clean city cannot be achieved by government efforts alone and requires the active involvement of every resident.
Authorities are encouraging citizens to not only participate in the exercise but also adopt responsible sanitation practices throughout the year.
AMA Warns Against Non-Compliance
The Assembly has indicated that strict enforcement measures will accompany the operation.
Individuals who fail to comply with directives, continue trading during the exercise, or obstruct sanitation activities could face fines, prosecution, or other sanctions under AMA bye-laws.
Officials say the enforcement measures are intended to strengthen public discipline and encourage greater responsibility toward environmental cleanliness.
Building a Cleaner and Safer Accra
The AMA believes that sustained sanitation exercises and improved public cooperation are essential to creating a cleaner, healthier, and more resilient capital city.
Authorities have once again warned against indiscriminate dumping of waste into drains and waterways, stressing that such practices continue to worsen flooding and environmental pollution.
With weather experts forecasting more rainfall in the coming weeks, the Assembly says proactive action is necessary to prevent avoidable disasters and safeguard communities.
Residents are therefore being urged to fully support the June 6 exercise and play their part in keeping Accra clean, safe, and flood-resilient.
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