President John Dramani Mahama has announced that government is considering introducing a monthly national clean-up exercise as part of efforts to improve sanitation and reduce the persistent threat of flooding across the country.

The President made the announcement at Alajo in Accra after joining senior government officials to participate in and inspect the ongoing two-day nationwide clean-up campaign.

The exercise is aimed at desilting drains, clearing waste from waterways and improving environmental sanitation in flood-prone communities.

Addressing participants, President Mahama said the scale of the sanitation challenge has shown that a two-day exercise alone is insufficient to restore and maintain clean communities.

He disclosed that government is therefore considering dedicating one day every month to a nationwide clean-up initiative to encourage sustained public participation in environmental sanitation.

The President said the proposal reflects Ghana's long-standing communal traditions, where residents collectively took responsibility for keeping their surroundings clean, adding that rapid urbanisation has gradually eroded that culture.

He observed that many people neglect their environmental responsibilities in urban areas because they believe they are no longer accountable to their communities.

Mr Mahama stressed that lasting improvements in sanitation will depend not only on government interventions but also on a change in public attitudes and behaviour.

He also announced that government has stepped up measures to tackle flooding, particularly in Accra, where blocked drains and silted waterways continue to contribute to seasonal flooding.

According to the President, the Finance Ministry has already released GH¢150 million to support flood mitigation projects, including the dredging of rivers, streams and drainage channels.

He added that personnel from the Ghana Armed Forces will continue desilting and drainage improvement works after the official two-day clean-up exercise concludes, to ensure the intervention is sustained.