According to President John Mahama, preparations are in progress to implement a curriculum that emphasizes discipline and responsible citizenship for students in partnership with the Ministry of Education.
Using insights from his recent trips to Japan and Singapore, the President spoke at the reintroduction of National Sanitation Day on Saturday, September 6, 2025, emphasizing their robust sanitation cultures as role models for Ghana.
He also mentioned the importance of teaching children proper hygiene practices at a young age in order to guarantee that they develop a feeling of civic duty as adults.
“Aside from organising National Sanitation Day, we must inculcate in our children the spirit and awareness of cleanliness.
“As the saying goes, teach the child the way he should go, and when he grows, he will not depart from it. So, we are in discussion with the Ministry of Education to see how we can create, as part of the curriculum, a separate course on courtesy and responsible citizenship so we can train our children from basic school to secondary school in responsible citizens,” he said.
Moreover, the president encouraged the chiefs to establish sanitation courts in their palaces to punish those who disobey sanitation regulations. He did point out, though, that it does not excuse MMDCEs from neglecting their duties.
“Our chiefs were the leaders when it came to voluntarism and communal labour. Unfortunately, with the coming of independence and a new constitution, the authority has been taken from them.
“I am in favour of restoring some of the authorities back to chiefs, especially when it comes to our environment and sanitation.
“I believe that in every community, there is a chief. So, if that is the case, we can have a sanitation court in every palace of the chief. If that is done, together with the district, people who are persistent polluters will be brought to the sanitation and fined so that we can have cleaner cities and towns.
“This, however, will not take away the job of the district assemblies when it comes to sanitation,” he said.