Friday is not a holiday: What you need to know about the June 10-11 national cleaning days

The Government of Ghana has clarified that Friday, July 10, 2026, is not a public holiday, despite the nationwide closure of markets and shops for a two-day National General Cleaning Exercise ordered by President John Dramani Mahama following the devastating floods that recently affected seven regions.

The clarification comes amid growing public uncertainty over whether businesses and public institutions would operate normally during the exercise.

According to government, while normal work is expected to continue, public sector workers and citizens are required to participate in the nationwide clean-up campaign aimed at restoring sanitation, preventing disease outbreaks and reducing the risk of future flooding.

The Minister for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, Ahmed Ibrahim, announced that all markets and shops within the affected regions will remain closed throughout the two-day exercise to facilitate extensive sanitation activities.

Speaking on the initiative, the Minister warned traders and business owners against defying the directive, stressing that security agencies have been instructed to enforce the presidential order.

"Everybody must be on board. All markets and shops must be closed. So if you go and open your shop, you will be on fire."

Mr. Ibrahim emphasised that the directive carries legal backing and urged the public to cooperate fully with authorities.

"If a 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 explained that the temporary closure is necessary to enable authorities to clear refuse, remove debris, desilt drainage systems and disinfect flood-affected markets before normal trading resumes.

The Minister noted that many markets were inundated during the recent floods, raising serious public health concerns.

According to him, reopening the markets without proper cleaning and disinfection could expose consumers and traders to disease outbreaks.

"The market, when the flood came, flooded most of the market. 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."

Government says the clean-up exercise forms part of broader post-flood recovery measures designed to improve environmental sanitation and strengthen flood preparedness before the next heavy rains.

The National General Cleaning Days follow the severe flooding that struck several parts of Ghana on June 29, 2026, particularly within the Greater Accra Region.

The floods claimed at least 12 lives and affected approximately 38,800 people, causing widespread destruction to homes, businesses, roads and public infrastructure across several communities.

In response, President Mahama directed the organisation of a nationwide sanitation campaign to restore affected areas and minimise future flood risks.

The exercise is being coordinated by the Post-Flood Mitigation Committee under the theme:

"Our Actions, Our Future: Cleaning Ghana after the Floods."

The initiative was officially announced by Presidential Spokesperson Felix Kwakye Ofosu on July 6, 2026.

The two-day clean-up exercise will be conducted across the seven regions most affected by the floods:

• Greater Accra
• Volta
• Central
• Western
• Western North
• Ashanti
• Eastern

Activities will include desilting drains, removing waste, clearing blocked waterways, disinfecting markets and public spaces, and improving sanitation in flood-prone communities.

Although Friday has been dedicated to the national clean-up exercise, government has clarified that it does not constitute a public holiday.

Speaking on Peace FM, Presidential Spokesperson Felix Kwakye Ofosu explained that workers in ministries, departments, Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) are expected to suspend their regular office duties and participate in the clean-up exercise instead.

He also appealed to private sector employers to release their staff to join the national campaign, describing environmental sanitation as a shared national responsibility.

According to him, while Friday's activities are primarily intended for workers and public institutions, Saturday, July 11, has been designated for nationwide public participation.

He disclosed that Brigadier General Forster Okae-Yeboah and the organising committee have already begun preparations to ensure the successful implementation of the exercise.

President John Dramani Mahama has directed Ministers, Members of Parliament, Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives, heads of state institutions and other public officials to leave their offices and actively lead clean-up exercises within their respective communities.

Government believes the nationwide campaign will not only improve sanitation in flood-affected areas but also encourage greater public awareness about environmental responsibility and disaster prevention.

Authorities have therefore urged all citizens, businesses and institutions to fully cooperate with the exercise as Ghana works to recover from the recent floods and build more resilient communities.