In a decisive move to uphold sanitation and public health standards, the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) on Tuesday arrested twenty-one (21) traders at the Agbogbloshie Market for illegally displaying and selling goods on open drains.
The operation, spearheaded by AMA’s Public Health Officers, forms part of a renewed effort to sustain cleanliness in the bustling market enclave following the recent National Sanitation Day exercise and the re-launch of the Clean Ghana Campaign Train — a citywide initiative aimed at enforcing hygiene and environmental health regulations.
Prior to the enforcement, the Mayor of Accra, Hon. Michael Kpakpo Allotey, had toured the market and announced a two-week intensive clean-up and desilting exercise to restore sanitary conditions and clear blocked drains ahead of stricter enforcement measures.
Addressing the media after the arrests, Metro Director of Public Health, Madam Florence Kuukyi, described Agbogbloshie Market as a vital food distribution hub, noting that nearly 80 percent of food vendors and handlers in Accra source their goods from the market.
She expressed deep concern over the conduct of some traders who, despite the market’s significance, continue to flout sanitation laws by abandoning their stalls and locking up shops to trade on the streets and over drains.
“What we continue to observe is worrying,” Madam Kuukyi lamented. “People have abandoned their stalls and locked their shops, only to display goods along the streets. This behaviour causes traffic congestion, creates unsanitary conditions, and exposes food items to contamination.”
She reiterated that AMA’s bye-laws strictly prohibit trading on streets and drains, warning that the Assembly will not hesitate to prosecute offenders to safeguard public health.
The AMA has assured the public of its commitment to maintaining cleanliness and order in all major markets across the city, urging traders to comply with sanitation regulations to avoid future confrontations. The Clean Ghana Campaign continues to roll out across Accra, with more enforcement actions expected in the coming weeks.
Leave a Reply