President Mahama expresses concern over accumulated silt at Tse‑Addo

President John Dramani Mahama joined citizens on the first day of the two-day National Cleaning Day at Tse Addo in Accra.

Speaking to the media, he said the large amount of silt and plastic waste choking Accra's drains is the result of years of neglect.

He made the remarks while touring Tse Addo on Friday, July 10, 2026.

“Look at the plastics we are taking out of it. Apart from that, the sand clearly did not accumulate in one year. It means this drain has been silted up for many years,” President Mahama said.

He added that the heavy silt has significantly reduced the capacity of the drains to carry water, thereby worsening flooding in the city.

According to him, during previous clean-up exercises, silt was often left by the roadside, only to be washed back into the drains when it rained.

“In this exercise, let’s make sure that after we take all this silt out, we have enough capacity to transport it and dispose of it at an appropriate location. If we are able to do this, for the next year or two, this drain will have enough capacity to carry the water through,” he noted.

The President also commended engineers, the military, and other security services for their participation, adding that dredging the main waterways would improve the flow of water into wetlands.

He therefore called for the clean-up exercise to become a regular civic responsibility.

“At least once a month, let’s set aside one day for all of us to come out and clean the city. With the help of waste management companies, we will be able to keep this city clean and free from flooding,” President Mahama urged.

The exercise forms part of the government's broader efforts to tackle flooding in Accra by combining community participation with institutional support.

VKB/VPO