Government proposes corporate partnership to maintain and beautify Accra streets
Story by: Regina Bless
The Government of Ghana has announced plans to introduce a corporate partnership programme aimed at improving the maintenance, cleanliness and beautification of major streets in Accra.
The Minister for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, Mahama Ayariga, announced the proposed initiative on October 3, 2026, during the national flagship clean-up exercise held at Rawlings Park to commemorate Ghana’s World Cleanup Day 2026.
Under the proposed arrangement, corporate organisations would be assigned selected streets across the capital and expected to support their cleaning, greening, lighting and general maintenance, with the activities supervised by relevant state institutions.
Mr. Ayariga said he had directed the National Director of Urban Roads and the Chief Executive Officer of the Land Use and Spatial Planning Authority (LUSPA) to submit a list of roads and streets in Accra to the Ministry.
Using the Obasanjo Highway as an example, the Minister explained that participating companies could have their names associated with selected streets without necessarily removing the names of the personalities after whom the roads were originally named.
He said the initiative could also create employment opportunities for young people through the Department of Parks and Gardens while improving greenery, pedestrian spaces and the overall appearance of Accra.
Mr. Ayariga commended residents, traders, traditional leaders and other stakeholders who participated in the National Sanitation Day exercise. He noted that while clean-up exercises were important for raising public awareness, sustainable cleanliness required functional systems that made proper waste disposal accessible and convenient.
Mayor Calls for Daily Cleanliness
The Mayor of Accra, Michael Kpakpo Allotey, urged traders to make cleanliness a daily responsibility rather than something observed only during National Sanitation Day activities.
Referencing the global theme for World Cleanup Day, “From Clean Plates to Clean Cities,” Mr. Allotey said the principle of cleanliness should extend from homes to public and commercial spaces.
He likened the responsibility of traders to washing plates after eating, saying traders should similarly clean their trading areas after conducting business.
The Mayor stressed that the Accra Metropolitan Assembly was not seeking to prevent people from trading but wanted to create conditions that would allow traders to operate in clean and healthy environments.
He added that traders should be able to conduct their businesses and take their earnings home rather than spend their income treating illnesses associated with poor sanitation.
Ga Mantse Representative Urges Sustained Effort
A representative of the Ga Mantse, King Tackie Teiko Tsuru II, Captain Nii Kojo Nseni Mankattah IV, also called on residents and traders to take greater responsibility for maintaining cleanliness after organised sanitation exercises.
Speaking on behalf of the Ga Mantse, he expressed concern that significant resources were invested in cleaning exercises, only for some areas to become littered again within hours.
He therefore urged residents, traders and other stakeholders to change their attitudes towards sanitation and ensure that the gains made through organised clean-up exercises are sustained.
The proposed corporate partnership is expected to complement government and assembly efforts to improve sanitation, greenery, lighting and the general outlook of Accra.