The Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) has launched a judicial crackdown, issuing summons to several commercial entities that defied the mandatory closure order during the National Sanitation Day exercise on Saturday, October 4.
City officials described the move as a necessary escalation to enforce compliance, signalling a tougher phase in the capital’s sanitation campaign.
The coordinated clean-up exercise—led by the Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs—featured active participation from the Mayor of Accra, Michael Kpakpo Allotey, the Minister Ahmed Ibrahim, and the Ga Mantse, King Tackie Teiko Tsuru II.
According to AMA Public Relations Officer Gilbert Ankrah, several non-compliant shop owners were swiftly dealt with by sanitation and public health officers.
“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,” Ankrah said.
He added that the offenders had already been issued summons and would face court on Monday.
Enforcement: Judiciary Takes the Lead
The decision to escalate non-compliance to judicial prosecution represents a significant shift from previous reliance on fines alone. The move is grounded in the Accra Sanitation Bye-laws (2017), which make participation in communal clean-up exercises mandatory.
Public health and sanitation officers focused their operations on commercial hubs and central business districts where many shops had ignored public closure directives.
Officials believe Monday’s court proceedings will serve as a strong deterrent against future defiance.
Despite the violations, Ankrah said the overall turnout for the clean-up was encouraging, with public participation estimated to have risen by 30% compared to previous exercises.
“The participation was quite impressive. If you look at how people came out to support the exercise, it was very successful,” he noted.
Mop-up operations continued through the weekend in waste-heavy areas such as Agbogbloshie Market, with the AMA targeting the removal of an estimated 500 tonnes of residual debris before Monday.
Mayor Allotey also declared October as “Sanitation Month,” pledging intensified clean-up efforts across all 13 Sub-Metropolitan Districts.
Minister Acknowledges Logistical Gaps
While commending citizens for their renewed engagement, Minister Ahmed Ibrahim pointed to structural and logistical challenges undermining national sanitation efforts.
“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.
According to the Minister, over 60% of Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) lack compactor trucks, relying instead on less efficient tipper trucks. He announced plans to procure an initial batch of 50 compactors for key urban centers.
Mr. Ibrahim also highlighted inadequate street lighting—impacting about 45% of urban streets—as a major barrier to sanitation operations. His ministry, he said, is working with the Ministries of Energy and Roads on an accelerated lighting project to support extended clean-up operations and enhance safety for sanitation workers.
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