Private legal practitioner Samson Lardy Anyenini stated on July 14, 2026, forcing citizens to join nationwide clean-up exercises is illegal without a specific by-law.
He emphasized that no national law empowers the President to enforce such a directive, following President John Dramani Mahama's urging Ghanaians to take part in clean-ups after recent floods. The President had declared July 10 and July 11, 2026, as National General Cleaning Days in seven flood-affected regions.
This legal clarification is significant for Ghana's governance framework. It highlights the distinction between presidential directives and legally binding instruments in a constitutional democracy. Previous efforts to improve sanitation have often relied on public participation campaigns, but the question of mandatory enforcement has now been formally addressed by a legal professional.
Mr. Anyenini, speaking on the Super Morning Show, clarified that stopping motorists and other citizens on the road and compelling them to clean lacks legal justification. He noted President Mahama's directive for the clean-up was not supported by national legislation giving him the authority to enforce compliance from every citizen.
Such enforcement would only be lawful if a Metropolitan, Municipal, or District Assembly had a specific by-law mandating resident participation in clean-up exercises. Authorities could then act under that by-law. For instance, the KMA ordered a temporary closure of businesses for the national clean-up, which would require an underlying by-law to be legally enforceable.
Mr. Anyenini stressed that Ghana operates as a constitutional democracy. In this system, presidential directives do not automatically become law. He explained that while the President can issue legal instruments like Executive Instruments, the call for a mandatory clean-up is not one of them. While a clean environment benefits everyone, participation should be encouraged through persuasion, not coercion, he added.
This legal interpretation has implications for civic engagement and local governance across Ghana. It underscores the importance of proper legal frameworks for public policy implementation. Future nationwide campaigns, especially those involving citizen participation in environmental sanitation, will need to consider the necessity of local by-laws to avoid legal challenges.
The ruling party and opposition groups will likely engage with this clarification as they manage public health initiatives. Citizens' compliance with such directives will now hinge more on voluntary participation or specific local legislation. Decision-makers and local authorities will need to review their enforcement strategies for clean-up exercises. This will ensure compliance with legal provisions and uphold citizens' rights in Ghana.