Cleanliness to be Key Performance Indicator for MMDCEs – Mahama
President John Dramani Mahama has announced that cleanliness of cities and towns will become a crucial metric for evaluating the performance of Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs).
This new benchmark will determine whether they retain their positions or are removed from office.
Speaking at a grand durbar of chiefs and people of the Greater Accra Region at Dodowa during his “Thank You Tour” of the region,
President Mahama emphasized that the National Sanitation Day program will be revitalized and observed monthly. “This time, it will not be a symbolic event. It will be legally backed, properly funded, and operationalized through partnerships with local assemblies and private sector service providers,” he declared.
President Mahama stressed that the Greater Accra Region, as the face of Ghana, must be clean, green, and dignified.
He reiterated that MMDCEs will be held accountable for ensuring the success of National Sanitation Day events in their districts. The law requiring households to maintain cleanliness of their frontage and drains will be strictly enforced, with sanctions for non-compliance.
Addressing concerns about Accra, President Mahama identified flooding as a major worry, attributing it to poor drainage, unregulated development, and climate change effects.
“This cannot continue. A dedicated inter-agency taskforce has already commenced work to implement a comprehensive flood mitigation strategy,” he said, highlighting plans to desilt major drains, re-engineer waterways, relocate structures in watercourses, and enforce building regulations.
The President noted that the Odaw River Basin and the Kaneshie Mallam Corridor are already being targeted under this plan. He urged residents to avoid flooded drains during rains and protect vulnerable properties during the peak rainy season.
President Mahama also announced plans to integrate the Greater Accra Flood Control Master Plan into the National Climate Resilience Strategy. He revealed that the Minister of Finance has directed that 80% of revenues accruing to the District Assemblies’ Common Fund be paid directly to the Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies (MMDAs), enabling them to implement development projects and effective sanitation programs.
With increased resources, President Mahama emphasized that much is expected from the MMDCEs. He announced that Cabinet will soon meet to discuss decentralizing the sanitation budget, making every district responsible for its own sanitation.