The government unveils a sweeping sanitation campaign across eight counties. Beginning October 1, the Clean City Initiative promises to transform waste management, strengthen environmental responsibility, and create thousands of jobs in a bold national awakening.
The initiative, envisioned by President Joseph N. Boakai, is being implemented through the Special Presidential Committee on the Clean City Initiative. Deputy Minister Bill McGill Jones, who chairs the committee, announced the program during a Ministry of Information press briefing in Monrovia.
“This campaign is about more than cleaning streets,” Jones declared. “It is about restoring dignity to our cities, empowering young people, and building a culture of responsibility that will last for generations.”
The pilot program will target sanitation challenges in 14 cities across the eight counties, employing approximately 1,250 young Liberians. These recruits will lead sustained garbage collection and clean‑up activities in public spaces, beaches, and waterways.
Beyond the physical clean‑up, the initiative will emphasize public awareness of city ordinances, urging communities and individuals to embrace their shared responsibility in keeping surroundings clean.
Authorities have identified 48 communities for intensified weekly clean‑up rotations. Four communities will be targeted each week, combining garbage collection with awareness campaigns focused on ordinance enforcement and the consequences of violations.
Jones stressed that the program is collaborative, uniting city mayors, county authorities, community leaders, and residents. Monrovia and Paynesville are leading the charge, coordinating with 14 cities nationwide to ensure a practical and sustained approach to sanitation.
Monrovia City Mayor John Siaffa, appearing alongside Jones, highlighted the urgency of the campaign. He revealed that Monrovia produces an estimated 250 tons of waste daily, underscoring the scale of the challenge.
To align with the Clean City Initiative, the Monrovia City Corporation (MCC) is strengthening its waste management systems. Measures include relocating dumping sites — such as the recent move from Wein Town to Crozerville — and exploring innovative solutions like converting waste into fertilizer.
Mayor Siaffa also announced the establishment of a digital system to monitor garbage collection and disposal. The MCC is engaging businesses and communities to ensure compliance with approved waste sites, signaling a shift toward modernized, accountable, and sustainable waste management.
“This is about sustainability,” Siaffa emphasized. “We are not only cleaning the city; we are building systems that will endure.”
Officials insist the Clean City Initiative is more than a sanitation program — it is a national movement. By promoting public participation and strengthening collective responsibility, the government aims to create cleaner, healthier, and more sustainable communities across Liberia.
As October approaches, the message is unmistakable: Liberia is declaring war on garbage. With presidential backing, community collaboration, and youthful energy, the Clean City Initiative is poised to reclaim the nation’s cities from the suffocating tide of waste and set a new standard for environmental responsibility.
