The Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA), in an attempt to clean up the city, summoned store owners who disregarded closure orders to take part in Saturday’s National Sanitation Day activity.
During the clean-up, sanitation and public health authorities promptly addressed concerns of non-compliance, warning that violators will be prosecuted, according to Gilbert Ankrah, AMA Public Relations Officer.
“What we noticed was that there were a couple of shop owners who had opened their shops, and quickly we had sanitation and public health officers moving in to deal with them.”
“They were given summons and will be arraigned before court on Monday,” Ankrah stated on Saturday, October 4, on Channel One Newsroom.
The Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy, and Religious Affairs oversaw the government’s relaunched sanitation programme, which included the exercise that was conducted nationwide on October 4.
Accra Mayor Michael Kpakpo Allotey, the Ga Mantse King Tackie Teiko Tsuru II, and Minister Ahmed Ibrahim participated in the cleanup.
The AMA is still conducting mop-up operations in strategic areas, according to Ankrah, who also characterised the public attendance as positive.
“The participation was quite impressive. If you look at how people came out to support the exercise, it was very successful,” he remarked.
“Currently, as I speak, we are doing a mop-up in the Agbogbloshie area, clearing some of the remaining debris. We will continue collections in some areas before Monday.”
He went on to say that October has been designated as Sanitation Month by the Accra Mayor and that increased cleanup efforts will take place during this time.
During the exercise, Minister Ahmed Ibrahim recognised that sanitation efforts were being hampered by practical issues, such as a shortage of dustbins and suitable trash trucks.
He promised government support to upgrade sanitary facilities, saying, “Some assemblies are using tipper trucks to cart refuse. It’s unprofessional. As sector minister, I will take it up and ensure the cities get at least a few compactors.”
He said that his ministry is collaborating with the Ministries of Energy and Roads to address the issue in all 16 regional capitals, pointing to inadequate street lighting as a barrier to early-morning and late-night cleanups.
Source: newsthemegh.com