The Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) has summoned several shop owners who defied orders to close their businesses and participate in Saturday’s National Sanitation Day exercise. The Assembly says the offenders will face legal action as part of efforts to enforce compliance with the government’s renewed sanitation campaign.
Public Relations Officer of the AMA, Gilbert Ankrah, confirmed that sanitation and public health officers swiftly moved in to deal with the situation after reports of non-compliance emerged during the clean-up operation.
“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”
Gilbert Ankrah, Public Relations Officer of the AMA
Ankrah emphasized that the AMA would not hesitate to prosecute individuals or entities that obstruct the city’s sanitation efforts, adding that enforcement was essential to maintaining discipline and ensuring full participation in government-led clean-up activities.
The National Sanitation Day exercise, which took place across the country on October 4, formed part of the government’s broader environmental hygiene initiative. In Accra, the activity attracted significant public involvement, with many residents and workers joining the campaign.
“The participation was quite impressive. If you look at how people came out to support the exercise, it was very successful,” Ankrah said, describing the turnout as encouraging and commended community members for their cooperation.
He added that mop-up operations were still ongoing in some areas to complete the clean-up. “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 noted.
The AMA said it would sustain these efforts through an intensified sanitation drive throughout the month. Ankrah disclosed that the Mayor of Accra, Michael Kpakpo Allotey, had declared October as Sanitation Month to ensure continuous maintenance of cleanliness in the capital.
Minister Joins Clean-Up, Acknowledges Challenges
The Minister of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, Hon. Ahmed Ibrahim, participated in the exercise alongside the Mayor and the Ga Mantse, King Tackie Teiko Tsuru II.
The Minister commended the collaboration between city authorities and local residents, describing the initiative as a step towards achieving cleaner and healthier urban spaces. However, Hon. Ibrahim also admitted that several logistical gaps continued to hinder effective sanitation management.
He pointed to the absence of compactor trucks, proper waste bins, and containers in many assemblies. “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.
He further acknowledged that poor street lighting had made early-morning and night-time cleaning difficult, a situation his ministry was working to address in collaboration with the Ministries of Energy and Roads.
The Ministry of Local Government has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting metropolitan authorities to sustain the clean-up momentum. Hon. Ibrahim said government intervention would include the provision of essential logistics, completion of road projects, and the installation of streetlights to facilitate sanitation operations.
The Minister noted that effective waste management remains central to the government’s environmental agenda under President John Dramani Mahama, who has emphasized the need for coordinated inter-ministerial support to improve living conditions in urban centers.
For the AMA, the renewed sanitation campaign signals a return to stricter enforcement and public accountability. The Assembly insists that individuals who fail to comply with sanitation directives will face prosecution as it works to make Accra one of the cleanest cities in the sub-region.
