NSA Director General leads staff in massive cleanup at Accra Sports Stadium

The Director General of the National Sports Authority (NSA), Yaw Ampofo Ankrah, on Friday morning led management and staff of the Authority’s headquarters in a massive cleanup exercise at the Accra Sports Stadium, in compliance with President John Dramani Mahama’s directive for a two-day national general cleaning across all regions affected by recent floods.

The exercise, which commenced at the headquarters premises, saw NSA staff sweeping the stadium precincts, clearing debris, desilting choked drains, and removing waste accumulated from the heavy downpours that have battered parts of the country over the past week. The cleanup is scheduled to continue through Saturday, July 11, 2026, as part of the broader national effort.

President Mahama declared July 10 and 11, 2026, as National General Cleaning Days to address the devastating impact of recent floods that affected several parts of the country. The initiative is being coordinated by the Post-Flood Mitigation Committee under the theme, “Our Actions, Our Future: Cleaning Ghana after the Floods,” and is being undertaken in seven regions: Greater Accra, Volta, Central, Western, Western North, Ashanti, and Eastern.

Under the presidential directive, ministers, Members of Parliament, Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives, heads of state institutions, and other public officials are expected to leave their offices and actively participate in cleanup exercises within their respective communities. The NSA Director General’s leadership at the Accra Sports Stadium reflects this directive, demonstrating the commitment of state institutions to the national cause.

The nationwide exercise focuses on desilting choked drains to improve water flow ahead of the rainy season, sweeping and clearing sand, weeds, and debris from major roads and highways, and cleaning public spaces including markets, lorry parks, and recreational facilities. Authorities have directed that markets and shops remain closed throughout the two-day period to allow for the desilting of drains, removal of refuse, and disinfection of flood-affected trading centres.

The Accra Sports Stadium, like many public facilities, has suffered from the recent torrential rains, with sections of the playing surface left waterlogged. The NSA has previously activated emergency pitch maintenance operations following hours of heavy rainfall. Director General Ampofo Ankrah has been actively involved in assessing the facility’s condition, having earlier described the stadium’s state as concerning and in need of urgent attention.

The cleanup initiative forms part of broader government efforts to restore sanitation, prevent disease outbreaks, and mitigate future flooding risks. President Mahama has also called for the establishment of a monthly national clean-up day, arguing that one-off sanitation exercises are insufficient to address Ghana’s deepening flooding and waste management crisis.

The two-day national cleaning exercise continues across the affected regions, with security agencies, Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies, waste management companies, and members of the public all expected to participate.