450 people prosecuted in Accra for sanitation offences

Four hundred and fifty people have been arrested and prosecuted by the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) for various sanitation offenses within the metropolis from January to May this year, the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) has disclosed.

According to the Head of the AMA Public Affairs Department, Gilbert Nii Ankrah out of the number, 41 were arrested for absence of household toilet facility in their premises, none availability of sanitary waste bins to store solid waste, failure to subscribe to accredited waste contractor within their community, accumulation of refuse and detrimental articles in their premises, indiscriminate dumping and burning of refuse in their premises as well as unsanitary disposal of grey water.

Gilbert Nii Ankrah disclosed this in an interview with journalists in Accra.

He noted that 57 people were also prosecuted for defecating and urinating openly whiles 262 people were also prosecuted during a general routine house to house inspection by the Assembly.

He stressed that during the period under review eight food vendors and 81 drinking and chop bar operators were also prosecuted for not having a medical health certificate, possessing an expired medical health certification, none availability of protective clothing for workers, not subscribing to accredited solid waste contractors, and insanitary refuse storage.

He said one person was also prosecuted for operating an insanitary corn mill machine, without a medical health certificate, a sanitary waste bin, and protective clothing, adding that the team during the inspection also discovered vermin infestation on his premises.

He disclosed that the enforcement activities within the period generated Seventy-Two Thousand Eight Hundred and Thirty-Six Ghana Cedis (GH?72,836) to the consolidated fund.

He reiterated the Assembly’s commitment to enforcing its bye-laws with emphasis on sanitation as well as the review of its bye-laws to deter would-be offenders and urged all residents to be responsible towards the environment.