14 arrested for open defecation

The Sanitation Monitoring Taskforce of the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) has arrested some 14 persons for allegedly indulging in open urination and defecation.

They are Nii Narh, Nayo Tetteh, Nii Ardey, Osman Yacub, Afidin Yorba, Mohammed Karim, Tetteh Annan, Prince Okeoma, Amina Fuseina, Kojo Agasu, Amofa Samuel, Prince Boateng, Kofi Nsiah and Abednego Hoyomey.

Head of Operations at the AMA Public Health Department, Mr. Randolph Benjamin Morkeh, who narrated the circumstances under which the 14 were arrested, said the operation was carried out at Jamestown and Korle-Gonno beaches as well as around the International Central Gospel Church (ICGC) during the early hours of Tuesday morning.

Mr Morkeh pointed out that the AMA is doing all it can to eliminate open defecation and indiscriminate dumping of refuse in the city of Accra, warning that any person caught in the act will be dealt with in accordance with the law.

He disclosed that the operation will continue tomorrow and cautioned households who do not have toilet facilities to register with the assembly for one.

“We will advise that households or residents should have toilet facilities for themselves and also register with the accredited solid waste company for your waste to be collected and disposed of sanitarily, if you give your waste to these junkies, we will arrest the junky and come after you, too”, Mr Morkeh warned.

He also warned residents and public toilet operators who discharge effluent into public drains to desist from the practice, as the AMA will come after them.

All the 14 suspects have been arraigned. They were taken to the La Sanitation and Motor Court.