Speaker of Parliament Alban Bagbin has called on Members of Parliament (MPs) to take an active role in the National General Clean-up Exercise declared by President John Dramani Mahama in response to the devastating June 29 floods.

Delivering a statement in Parliament on Tuesday, July 7, Mr Bagbin encouraged MPs, particularly those representing flood-affected constituencies, to mobilise residents, Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs), traditional leaders, religious bodies, youth groups and civil society organisations to ensure the success of the nationwide exercise.

The two-day clean-up campaign, scheduled for Friday, July 10, and Saturday, July 11, is being organised under the theme, “Our Actions, Our Future: Cleaning Ghana after the Floods.” It aims to restore communities affected by the floods, improve sanitation and reduce the risk of future flooding.

Mr Bagbin said the initiative offers MPs an opportunity to demonstrate leadership and solidarity with residents as communities recover from the disaster.

He stressed that sanitation should not be viewed solely as a public health issue but as a critical component of environmental protection, national resilience and responsible citizenship.

“The recent floods have once again reminded us that clogged drains, indiscriminate disposal of refuse and encroachment upon waterways continue to expose our communities to avoidable disasters,” the Speaker stated.

He added that lawmakers have both a constitutional and moral duty to lead by example in their constituencies.

“As the Legislature, we bear both a constitutional and moral responsibility to provide leadership within our constituencies. Our constituents expect us not only to legislate on matters of national importance, but also to stand with them in times of difficulty and to lead by personal example,” he said.

To enable MPs to fully participate in the exercise, Mr Bagbin announced that Parliament will suspend its sitting on Friday, July 10.

He explained that the decision followed consultations with the leadership of the House, who unanimously agreed that lawmakers should return to their constituencies to support the clean-up campaign.

The June 29 floods affected communities across seven regions, claiming lives, displacing residents and causing extensive damage to homes and property.

In response, the government has introduced a number of recovery and mitigation measures, including the National General Clean-up Exercise, to restore affected communities, improve sanitation and strengthen flood prevention efforts across the country.