Ama to Recruit More Sanitary Officers

The Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) is to recruit and train 50 youths from the various sub-metros as sanitary inspectors in its bid to rid the city of filth.

Mr Solomon Ofei-Darko, Metropolitan Chief Executive of AMA, said this when he paid a familiarisation visit to the Metro Public Health Unit at Adjaben in Accra. He said the insufficient number of sanitary inspectors was making it difficult to insist on sound environmental practices in the city.

Mr Ofei-Darko said the recruits after basic training in sanitation would work under various experts in the Metropolis.

They would be provided with logistics such as motorcycles and reflector jackets to facilitate their work.

He said expressed disappointed about the inactivity of the Public Health Department saying: "A lot of people are unaware of your existence. You have failed in your duties to promote and safeguard sound public health by visiting premises. You need to wake up for people to feel your presence."

Mr Ofei-Darko said AMA, under World Bank's sponsorship, would build public toilets in the Metropolis to stop people from defecating on the beaches, cemeteries and other open spaces. He said household, shops and offices would be tasked to provide toilet facilities on their premises.

The AMA boss emphasised the need for the Metro Public Health to enforce all the existing sanitation byelaws.

He reminded the staff of their duties, which included the control of stray animals, abatement of environmental nuisance such as noise, heat and smoke.

Mr Emmanuel Akrofi-Bruce, Director of Metro Public Health, appealed to the government to provide the department with the necessary logistics and finance to facilitate their work.

He also urged the government to consider gravelling the Osu cemetery.