Mahama Inspects Post-Flood Clean-Up As Government Deploys More Trucks

Government says the post-flood clean-up in affected communities will not end with the second day of the national exercise, as more equipment is being sent out to clear refuse, open drains and remove debris left behind by the June 29 floods.

Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs Minister Ahmed Ibrahim said on Saturday, July 11, that additional trucks and tricycles had been deployed to strengthen the evacuation effort. He gave the assurance during an interview with JoyNews' Fatawu Bayaga while monitoring the second day of the clean-up ahead of President John Mahama's visit to inspect progress.

"We are not ending today. The President is coming, and we have ordered additional trucks because you can see that there are about 40 or 60 trucks that are coming to augment whatever we have here," the minister said.

Government Adds Trucks And Tricycles To Evacuation Effort

The clean-up follows heavy rains that caused flooding in several parts of the country on June 29. The floods left communities dealing with clogged drains, damaged public infrastructure, disrupted livelihoods and piles of refuse mixed with mud and debris.

Mr Ibrahim said the volume of waste on the streets was expected to rise as residents continued cleaning out their homes after the floods. In many affected areas, household items, silt, plastic waste and other debris have been pushed to roadsides for evacuation.

According to the minister, the clean-up teams are dealing with two problems at the same time. First, they must clear the refuse already piled up in affected communities. Second, they must prevent that waste from being washed back into drains when the next heavy rain falls.

"If you follow this road today, you will see that there is plenty of refuse piled up. Today is the day people are cleaning their houses, so you will see more waste than what you are even seeing," he added.

The minister disclosed that government had increased the number of tricycles assigned to waste collection from 400 to 600. He said more trucks were also being mobilised, with about 40 to 60 additional trucks expected to support the operation.

That increase in equipment is significant because post-flood clean-up is often slowed by the distance between affected communities and disposal sites. Tricycles are able to move through tighter community roads and collect waste from points where larger trucks cannot easily reach. Trucks then carry larger loads away from collection points for final evacuation.

Clean-Up Expected To Continue Into Next Week

Mr Ibrahim said the immediate evacuation of major refuse heaps could be completed within the coming week if the current pace is maintained. He added that sweeping and other sanitation work would continue after the removal of the heaviest piles.

"Within the next possible week, we will be able to finish the evacuation and continue with the sweeping," he said.

The minister's comments suggest that the exercise is being treated as more than a ceremonial clean-up. Flood recovery requires sustained work, especially in communities where drains are already under pressure from accumulated waste. If refuse is left on roadsides or near drains, the next rainfall can push it back into waterways, causing the same blockages that worsen flooding.

The clean-up also comes at a time when public attention is fixed on urban sanitation and drainage management. The June 29 floods again exposed how quickly blocked drains, poor waste disposal and heavy rainfall can combine to damage homes, disrupt movement and threaten public safety.

• Additional trucks are being brought in to support evacuation.
• Tricycles assigned to waste collection have increased from 400 to 600.
• The main evacuation phase is expected to continue into the coming week.
• Sweeping and sanitation work will continue after large refuse heaps are removed.

Alajo Drain Vehicle Removal Still Underway

One of the difficult recovery tasks remains the removal of a vehicle trapped in a major drain at Alajo. Mr Ibrahim said officials had worked on the vehicle on Friday but could not complete the removal. He insisted that the team had not abandoned the task.

"We were on it yesterday and we couldn't finish, but that does not mean we have abandoned it. Once we finish the evacuation of the heaps you see here, we will go back to it," he stated.

The trapped vehicle has become a reminder of the scale of the flood damage and the technical challenges involved in clearing major drains after a heavy downpour. Removing such obstacles is important because any blockage in a major drain can reduce water flow and increase flood risk for nearby communities.

President John Mahama later arrived at Alajo to receive updates from officials supervising the clean-up. He is expected to address the wider sanitation and flood prevention measures being implemented by government.

For affected residents, the key test will be whether the clean-up produces lasting relief beyond the inspection tour. The piles of refuse must be removed, drains must remain clear and communities need a system that prevents waste from returning to the same channels whenever it rains. Government's expanded deployment of trucks and tricycles is a necessary start, but the work will have to continue long after the cameras leave Alajo.