Court jails 11 people 30 days each for open defecation, public urination

Eleven persons in Accra have been sentenced to 30 days each in prison for engaging in open defecation, urinating in public and indiscriminate dumping of refuse.

The 11, who were arrested by the Accra Metropolitan Assembly on Wednesday, May 30, were convicted on their own guilty plea at the Adjaben Magistrate Court and were accordingly sentenced by the magistrate, Isaac Addo the same day.

They are Emmanuel Holornyo, Yahaya Assuma, Bashiru Zaaki, Abdul Wahab Inusah, Montario Muhammed, Victor Saviour, Akolobila Akudibila, Prince Kamorudren, Ibrahim Issifu and Umar Mohammed.

One person, Ibrahim Alhassan, was fined GH 240, while three others, Nicholas Mensah, Adongo Cletus and Lawal Olarenweju were granted GHC2,000-bail each after the pleaded not guilty. They are to appear again on June 13.

The action by the convicts and the accused persons were in contravention of Act 851 Section 56(A and B) of the Public Health Act 2012. Head of the AMA Sanitation and Monitoring Taskforce, Mr. Charles Bosomprah said the convicts and the accused persons were arrested in an operation carried out around the ICGC Christ Temple Church, Old Fadama, Mortuary road, GCB Liberty House, Tudu, Kantamanto, Tema Station, National Theater, Rawlings Park, Kimbu and James Town.

Head of Operations at AMA Public Health Department, Mr. Randolph Benjamin Morkeh, said the people within the metropolis were cautioned about a month ago to desist from dumping indiscriminately and engaging in open defecation and urination.

Mr. Morkeh said the AMA will do all it can to eliminate open defecation and indiscriminate dumping of refuse in the city of Accra, adding any person caught in the act will be dealt with in accordance with the law.

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

“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,” he said.

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.