Sierra Leone’s new President Julius Maada Bio has declared “national cleaning” days as part of a campaign to improve hygiene in the West African country.
Bio in a statement said the cleaning days will be held on the first Saturday of every month from 7:00AM to 12:00 noon local time.
The first is scheduled to be held on 5 May.
Sierra Leone becomes only the second country in Africa after Rwanda to institute national cleaning days.
Rwanda’s is held every last Saturday of the month, and often even President Paul Kagame and his family are seen joining locals on the street for the cleaning drive.
The initiative is credited as being the reason Kigali is considered to be Africa’s cleanest city.
Sierra Leone’s Bio also declared another decree that requires civil servants to work between 8.30am and 4.45pm from Monday to Friday. This he says is aimed at improving productivity.
He said he would conduct impromptu spot-checks to ensure the new regulations are being adhered to.
