President John Dramani Mahama

President John Mahama has announced that cleanliness will become a key performance standard for Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs).

According to the President, whether MMDCEs remain in office or are removed will now largely depend on the state of sanitation in their respective jurisdictions.

Speaking during his Thank You Tour of the Greater Accra Region in Dodowa on Friday, May 16, President Mahama emphasized that maintaining clean communities will be a central performance indicator under his administration.

“Cleanliness will become one of the key performance indicators for measuring the performance of MMDCEs and will determine whether they remain in office or are removed,” he stated.

The President also expressed concern over the persistent flooding in the country, especially in Accra. He attributed the problem to poor drainage systems, unregulated development, and the worsening impacts of climate change. He described the situation as intolerable and called for urgent, coordinated action.

A specialized inter-agency task team, he noted, has already begun implementing a comprehensive flood mitigation plan. Measures include reengineering waterways, relocating buildings situated in watercourses, desilting major drains, and strictly enforcing building codes. The Odaw Basin and the Kaneshie-Mallam corridor are receiving focused attention.

President Mahama also voiced frustration over delays in critical flood prevention projects under the Greater Accra Resilient and Integrated Development (GARID) initiative, which is supported by the World Bank.

He advised residents, particularly those living in flood-prone areas and near open drains, to exercise caution during the rainy season.

To strengthen sanitation management at the district level, the President announced that 80% of the District Assemblies Common Fund’s revenue will henceforth be disbursed directly to Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies (MMDAs). This, he said, will provide them with increased resources to execute sanitation and development programs.

Additionally, he revealed that the Cabinet will soon meet to consider full decentralization of the sanitation budget, which will make each district fully accountable for maintaining cleanliness.

“Accra deserves a clean and resilient environment, and that is why we are integrating the Greater Accra Flood Master Control Plan into our national climate resilience strategy,” President Mahama concluded.

KA

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