Accra’s Accra Green and Clean City Initiative officially launched with the formation of its steering committee, led by Minister Mahama Ayariga of Local Government, Chieftaincy, and Religious Affairs. The program seeks to enhance sanitation, greenery, and upkeep of the capital’s streets and public areas through coordinated efforts.
A central element is the Adopt-a-Street or Adopt-a-Corridor Programme. It aims to motivate businesses to collaborate with public institutions. They will conduct routine cleaning, landscaping, tree planting, and upkeep of specific streets and public areas.
Programme Implementation
The initiative is planned to launch in chosen corridors within Accra and then expand progressively, with corporate partners operating under agreed-upon maintenance plans and oversight mechanisms to guarantee lasting enhancements to the city’s environment.
Mr Ayariga says Accra, as Ghana’s administrative capital and representative image, should mirror the nation’s values and dedication to environmental sustainability. However, ongoing littering, insufficient maintenance of public spaces, and limited greening efforts harm its appearance and livability.
The Minister urged companies, banks, telecommunications providers, industries, hotels, and other enterprises to showcase their dedication to national development. They should take responsibility for maintaining specific sections of the city as part of their corporate social responsibility initiatives.
Committee Responsibilities
The Minister directed the Committee to create an implementation strategy. They must determine priority streets and corridors, attract corporate partners, calculate costs for improvements and ongoing maintenance, and draft standard partnership agreements. These agreements define the duties of both corporate participants and public officials.
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Additionally, the Committee is responsible for setting up monitoring and evaluation systems, including quantifiable metrics, initial assessments, and periodic inspections to verify that adopted areas remain clean, green, and properly maintained.
Mr Ayariga emphasized that the Committee should convert these objectives into a structured timeline with assigned institutional leads, clear benchmarks, and a preliminary budget to present to the Ministry.
Technical support will be provided by the Land Use and Spatial Planning Authority, the Department of Urban Roads, and the Department of Parks and Gardens. This ensures all interventions align with urban planning, road safety, environmental, and landscaping standards.
Support from Traditional Authorities
His Royal Majesty (HRM) King Nii Tackie Teiko Truru II, the Ga Mantse and Chairman of the Steering Committee, pledged support from traditional authorities for the initiative. He called for practical measures to address sanitation challenges and improve waste management in the capital.
The Ga Mantse emphasized that the initiative should be supported by short, medium, and long-term objectives, robust monitoring and evaluation processes, and the creation of sanitation courts to address individuals who violate sanitation regulations.
He assured the Committee of the traditional authorities’ commitment to the assignment, stating that they would work with government and other stakeholders to improve sanitation and waste management in Accra.
