'If you open your shop, you will be on fire' - Minister warns ahead of clean-up

The Minister for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, Ahmed Ibrahim, has issued a stern warning to traders and shop owners across the Greater Accra Region, declaring that all markets and shops must be shut down during President John Dramani Mahama's upcoming two-day national clean-up exercise.

He warned that those who defy the order will face the full force of the law.

Speaking to the media and stakeholders in Accra on Tuesday, July 7, 2026, the Minister cautioned against anyone taking the President's directive lightly.

"Everybody must be on board. All markets and shops must be closed. And this one, the CDS is on board. And the IGP is on board. And the Controller-General is on board. So if you go and open your shop, you will be on fire.

"If the President speaks and you want to take it for granted, the law will deal with you. He is the Commander-in-Chief of the Ghana Armed Forces," he said.

The Minister then explained the public health rationale behind the closure, noting that floodwaters from the devastating June 29 floods had affected several markets and shops and that contamination posed a serious disease risk if left unaddressed.

"The markets got flooded, and the water got into some of the shops. So if we don't close them and sweep and collect all the debris and disinfect most of the places, they will be buying and selling all those things for us to eat, and there will be an outbreak of diseases," he said.

The Minister also disclosed that heads of the security agencies, Members of Parliament and officials from the Presidency would be participating in the exercise, signalling the high-profile nature of the clean-up.

Watch the video below:

“if you open your shop, you will be on fire.”

The Minister for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs has announced that all markets and shops across the Greater Accra Region will be closed during the President’s two-day cleanup exercise to ensure maximum public… pic.twitter.com/KwyvSrTlCZ

— EDHUB🌍ℹ (@eddie_wrt) July 8, 2026

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