The Minister for Local Government and Religious Affairs, Ahmed Ibrahim, has issued a strong call to Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) to justify their continued stay in office as they approach one year in their roles.

Speaking during his turn at the Government Accountability Series, the minister stressed that many local authorities have grown complacent in enforcing sanitation standards across their jurisdictions.

“You have held your appointment letters since June. By this June, you will have been in office for one full year — legally,” he said. “It is important that you justify your inclusion. A word to the wise is enough.”

As part of renewed efforts to improve environmental sanitation, the ministry has rolled out a number of interventions, particularly in the Greater Accra Region.

Key among these is the procurement and deployment of branded motorbikes dedicated to sanitation monitoring. According to the Minister, these motorbikes will be used by trained personnel to patrol principal and ceremonial streets continuously.

“We are going to work 24/7,” he emphasised. “Motorbikes have been acquired, youth have been recruited, and they will be actively monitoring sanitation conditions on the ground.”

The initiative is expected to introduce a more visible and responsive sanitation enforcement presence, with patrol teams tasked to identify problem areas in real time.

In addition to physical monitoring, the ministry is setting up dedicated communication lines and a centralized call centre to allow citizens to report sanitation issues directly.

Although the Minister withheld specific details pending the official launch, he explained how the system will function: residents who observe uncollected waste or unsanitary conditions will be able to report these via phone lines or digital submissions, including videos.

“Once a report comes in — whether through a call or video evidence — it will be logged at the call centre. That is how performance will be assessed,” he noted.

This approach shifts part of the accountability process to citizens, enabling real-time feedback and reducing the chances of underreporting by local officials.

The Minister made it clear that sanitation performance will now be a key metric in evaluating MMDCEs. Poor conditions reported and verified in specific areas could directly impact the tenure of responsible officials.

“If sanitation is poor in your area and it is captured on video, it is not about anyone targeting you,” he cautioned. “Your performance will speak for itself.”

The sanitation initiative forms part of a wider accountability agenda being implemented across local government structures. The Office of the Head of Local Government has already signed performance contracts with local authorities to ensure measurable outcomes.

The minister indicated that progress has already been made in areas such as the implementation of a 24-hour waste management system and broader environmental sanitation efforts.

“As part of promoting accountability and enhancing performance across local government systems, we have taken concrete steps — and we have delivered on key commitments,” he said.