The Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) has detained and prosecuted sixteen people in Kumasi for breaking environmental safety bylaws.
The arrests and prosecutions are the result of a recent enforcement sweep, which reflects the assembly’s renewed efforts to address the Ashanti Regional capital’s pervasive unsanitary conditions and practices.
The offenders, who were all central business district residents, were discovered to have committed a variety of infractions, Kwaku Poku, Head of the KMA’s Environmental Health Unit, told Luv FM.
Due to insufficient disposal techniques, a large amount of the 2,000 tons of solid waste produced everyday in Kumasi ends up in open areas and drains.
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Charges Against Arrested People
The arrested persons’ documented infractions included careless garbage disposal, keeping weedy and untidy surroundings, and permitting domestic waste to spill into public sewers.
Kwaku Poku revealed that the violators have been arraigned before the court to receive the proper penalties, which include a variety of fines.
“We have arrested 16 people who flouted environmental safety bye-laws,” he stated. “We are rightly enforcing the laws, arresting those who have flouted various environmental and sanitation regulations. Some had homes in the Central Business District, and they have allowed their filth to flow into the public drains, others had dumped indiscriminately.”
“They were arraigned before court for failing to make an appearance. In terms of enforcement, I believe we have made strides towards it, I assumed my role barely three months ago, and I am prepared to tackle the filth in the city,” said Mr. Poku.
The enforcement sweep in Kumasi also targeted food production sites with substandard hygiene practices, including the Kumasi Abattoir.
A KMA and Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) taskforce inspected a viral ice kenkey factory and shut down the facility due to unsanitary conditions.
Kwaku Poku is emphasizing the importance of collaboration to effectively combat the challenges plaguing the Kumasi Metropolis.
“We are in talks with Kumasi Abattoir to arrest stray cattle on our streets. I led the team of KMA and FDA staff to the ice kenkey factory at Adehy3 Market and asked them to cease operation. We have closed the facility.”
“We have a weak supervision regime when it comes to policing food-producing facilities and markets. We are collaborating with the FDA to strategize on how to routinely monitor our markets and rid them of filth,” he said.
This will serve as a lesson to all the rascal youths vandalizing properties
No one above the law
big family Obease 3y3
Ghanaians really need to be educated concerning sanitation…laws guiding sanitation must be enforced with iron hands
Good work done KMA
the law is finally working.
Is good that the law is enforced on the people who don’t obey the sanitations rules and regulations
this will bring a lot of changes.