The Swedruman Council of Chiefs is to punish 12 recalcitrant store owners who refused to participate in the National Sanitation Day programme.
They have therefore been summoned to appear before the council on November 6, 2014.
Nana Kwame Donkoh II, Chairman of the Sanitation Committee of the council of Chiefs made this known to the Press after leading a four hour National sanitation clean- up Programme at Agona Swedru, on Saturday.
The Committee seized food items, including cassava, tomatoes, onion, garden eggs, plantain and other food stuffs from some market women who were selling during the exercise.
Nana Donkoh warned that the Council will deal ruthlessly with people found dumping refuse indiscriminately and littering the streets and gutters.
He said the Council of Chiefs was not happy with the poor sanitation in the Municipality and appealed to the people to help reverse the situation.
The people, as part of the programme, swept, weeded and cleared gutters, whilst personnel of the Fire Service used their fire tenders to flush choked gutters.
Personnel from the Immigration Service, Bureau of National Investigation (BNI), NADMO Officials, social clubs and other Youth Association participated in the exercise described as successful.
Nana Donkoh suggested to Parliament to pass an Act to support the programme.
The Gyasihene tasked the Assemblies to be more pro-active on environmental sanitation bye-laws to reduce outbreak of cholera and communicable diseases.
Mr George Freeman, Agona West Municipal Environmental Health Officer praised Assembly members and some opinion leaders who led their people to clean their communities.
He cautioned residents and the traveling public to desist from throwing out refuse from moving vehicles.
Mr Charles Obeng-Inkoom, Agona West Member of Parliament (MP) commended the participants for their communal spirit exhibited in the programme.
He said the government will continue to help improve sanitation in the country, especially in the cities to ensure proper environmental sanitation to avert an outbreak of cholera and other diseases.