Twenty-one vendors at the Agbogbloshie Market were fined GH¢600 each, or fifty penalty units, by the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) Sanitation Court for a variety of sanitation-related offences, such as selling in unapproved places, blocking public walkways, and obstructing access roads with tricycles, or “Pragya.”
Those found guilty of selling at unapproved locations and blocking public roads include John Koko, Adu Ibrahim, Donald Koku, Anthony Ngambe, Baadal Aku, Christiana Okai, Peter Yayir, Dalodo Elivah, Ofori Amos, Bilidone Jacob, Jacob Basah, and Emmanuel Naja.
Others were accused of blocking public highways with their tricycles, including Joe Boakye, Daniel Okai, Simon Bilah, and Noah Nassim.
The offenders were convicted after being caught by Public Health Officers during a routine inspection exercise at the Agbogbloshie Market to enforce the city’s cleanliness bye-laws, according to Gilbert Nii Ankrah, Head of Public Affairs at the AMA, who spoke following the ruling.
He emphasised that the Assembly was still dedicated to re-establishing order, cleanliness, and safety in the city and stated the fines act as a deterrence to others who still disobey sanitation and public order laws.
Following the successful reintroduction of the National Sanitation Day campaign, which highlights shared responsibility among residents, traders, and business operators in maintaining a clean city, he said the activity was a part of ongoing enforcement efforts.
He warned that defaulters will be caught and prosecuted without hesitation, and he urged all locals and vendors to maintain a clean environment and refrain from selling on walkways, open drains, or unapproved locations.
Madam Florence Kuukyi, the AMA’s head of public health, stated that the court imposed the fine because it was the first time the offender appeared and warned that future offenders would be subject to harsher punishments, such as jail time.
Since none of the 21 offenders were willing to serve the three-month jail sentence at the Nsawam prisons, she revealed that they all paid their fines in full before the office closed at 4:30 p.m. that same day. They were also required to sign a bond promising not to sell on the road or by the side of the road, she added.
Madam Kuukyi clarified that the AMA was implementing a three-phase sanitation and decongestion campaign to restore order in the markets, which included the enforcement action at Agbogbloshie.
She explained that in order to free up pedestrian and vehicle traffic, the first phase would concentrate on removing vendors selling on roadsides and drains. The second phase would address vendors putting their wares on the ground inside the market, and the third phase would address food vendors cooking inside the market to stop possible fire outbreaks.
“Our goal is to transform the market before moving to other areas, ensuring it is clean, safe, and accessible for customers and that the public can shop in a hygienic environment.” she stated.
Although some traders are still insistent, she underlined that the AMA had already engaged traders and trained them on appropriate trading methods and market hygiene.
Source: newsthemegh.com