Thumbs Up for AMA

Traders in Accra Central near the Rawlings Park have lauded the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) for their new night sweeping concept to ensure cleanliness in the metropolis.

They congratulated the AMA for doing a good job, which they said it is long over due, but implored the Authority to give equal attention to the gutters in the city.

A kelewele (fried plantain) seller, Latifa suggested that more workers should be recruited to deal with clogged drainage systems in the country.

"God should bless the AMA. I wish them all the best. I really appreciate what they are doing and wish I were involved," Reverend Carpenter, at the Presbyterian Head Office said.

He called on the AMA to employ more workers to ensure the sustainability of the programme. He said there are many unemployed people in town and this is an opportunity for job creation.

"I think they should launch a fund or bring us some boxes so that we can contribute our quota. The little that we get can pay one or two people's salary. They should put more dustbins in town to make their work easier."

An old man who sells local bitters and drinks in front of the Barclays Bank at Makola, Mr. Maxwell Adjei urged the AMA to intensify the awareness campaign so that the public will know what they are about. "If they want us to close at six for them to sweep, we can do that, but without announcements and advertisements how can we know."

A man who would not give his name said there is room for improvement when it comes to sanitation in the city and the AMA must sit up. Though he lauded the new initiative he said they need to do more. "The way people are selling on the street is really bad, especially towards the Makola ECG area. It is an eye sore. You do not expect a capital city to look this way."

He because people are selling on the pavements, pedestrians have to use the streets, which is very dangerous. "They should advise the hawkers to move to the Agbogbloshie market. It would be better and there would be free flow of traffic."

Mr. David Asare, the Coordinator of the programme mentioned human resources, logistics and support as the major problems hindering their work and called on corporate bodies, government and individuals to assist.

David Asare, also called "Assembly boy" said since the inception of the programme they have been able to disinfect the Agbogbloshie market gutters and eradicate the stench. He said the gutters would be sprayed twice a month. The target is to make sure that by the end of this month all the gutters in the city are serving their purpose.

He disclosed that most of the night workers were taken from the unemployment registration exercise.

Some of the workers The Accra Daily Mail spoke to appealed to the traders to close early so that they can also finish their work early, rather than insulting them when they come to sweep the frontage of their shops.