The Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) has launched a judicial crackdown on businesses that defied the mandatory closure order during the National Sanitation Day exercise on Saturday, October 4.
According to city officials, the move marks a new, tougher phase in enforcing compliance with Accra’s sanitation regulations. The coordinated clean-up exercise, spearheaded by the Ministry of Local Government, Decentralisation and Rural Development, also saw the participation of the Mayor of Accra, Michael Kpakpo Allotey, the Minister of Local Government, Ahmed Ibrahim, and the Ga Mantse, King Tackie Teiko Tsuru II.
Mr. Gilbert Ankrah, Public Relations Officer of the AMA, confirmed that legal action was swiftly initiated against defaulting shop owners.
“We noticed a number of shop owners who had opened their shops during the exercise, and our sanitation and public health officers quickly moved in to deal with them,”
Mr. Ankrah stated in an interview with Channel One News.
He added that the offenders had been served with court summons and were expected to be arraigned on Monday.
Judiciary Steps In to Enforce Sanitation Laws
The AMA’s decision to prosecute offenders marks a shift from previous reliance on administrative fines to full judicial enforcement under the Accra Sanitation Bye-Laws (2017), which mandate public participation in communal cleaning exercises.
Public health and sanitation officers targeted several key commercial zones and central business districts where shops had remained open in defiance of prior public notices. Officials say the prosecutions are intended to serve as a strong deterrent against future violations.
Despite a few cases of non-compliance, Mr. Ankrah commended the overall public turnout, noting a significant improvement in participation compared to previous exercises.
“The response was quite impressive. We saw about a 30 percent increase in participation, and many people came out to support the exercise,” he said.
He revealed that mop-up operations were ongoing in heavy waste areas, including Agbogbloshie Market, with the AMA targeting the removal of up to 500 tonnes of residual waste by Monday.
Mayor Allotey has since declared October as “Sanitation Month,” signaling a sustained citywide campaign across all 13 Sub-Metropolitan Districts under the AMA’s jurisdiction.
Minister Acknowledges Logistical Shortfalls
While commending public cooperation, the Minister of Local Government, Ahmed Ibrahim, highlighted persistent logistical challenges undermining effective sanitation management across the country.
He noted that several assemblies still rely on tipper trucks to cart waste, describing the practice as “unprofessional” and pledging to replace them with modern compactors.
“Some assemblies are using tipper trucks to cart refuse — it’s unprofessional. As sector minister, I’ll ensure our cities get at least a few compactors,” he stated.
According to him, a recent survey revealed that more than 60% of Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies (MMDAs) lack the required compactor trucks for efficient waste collection.
Mr. Ibrahim announced plans to procure an initial batch of 50 new compactors for major urban centers.
He also pointed out that poor street lighting — affecting nearly 45% of urban roads — remains a major obstacle to early-morning and night-time sanitation work. His ministry, he said, is working with the Ministries of Energy and Roads to implement an accelerated street-lighting project to enhance safety and efficiency for sanitation workers.
