The Mayor of Accra, Michael Kpakpo Allotey, has ordered the prosecution of 37 individuals and business operators, including Samir Engineering, Vision Transport, and several shop owners, for allegedly refusing to close their premises and take part in last Saturday’s citywide clean-up exercise under the relaunched National Sanitation Day initiative.

Those cited include business operators from areas such as the Tuesday Market, Korle-Bu, Abossey Okai, Kaneshie First Light, Avenor, and Agbogbloshie Market.

Notable offenders include Joseph Angela Tagoe, Sandra Mills, Elisabeth Quaye, Stella Adams, Vida Borbi, Victoria Allotey, and the management of Vision Transport, Kolaa, Aruko, and VVIP Transport Services.

According to the Mayor, the individuals and companies defied a clear directive from the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) requiring all shops and markets to remain closed during the exercise, a move he described as “a blatant disregard for lawful authority.”

Leading inspection teams through the Central Business District, Agbogbloshie, Abossey Okai, and other commercial zones, Mr. Allotey directed public health officers to issue statutory notices and court summonses to the offenders.

They are to appear before the newly established AMA Sanitation and Motor Court, in line with the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (Communal Labour) Bye-Laws, 2017, enacted under Section 181 of the Local Governance Act, 2016 (Act 936).

During the operation, the Mayor also halted ongoing construction activities at the Kwame Nkrumah Interchange, emphasizing that no private or commercial work should interfere with the citywide exercise.

“This clean-up is not just about sweeping streets; it is about building a culture of responsibility and pride in our environment,” he stated, urging residents, traders, and transport unions to support the ongoing efforts.

Mr Allotey further declared October as “Sanitation Month” for Accra, with daily clean-up activities across markets, lorry parks, and communities. He said the AMA would intensify public education, enhance monitoring, and ensure strict enforcement of sanitation laws throughout the month.

While commending residents and traders who actively participated in desilting drains and clearing refuse, the Mayor warned that defaulters would face prosecution to protect the integrity of the city’s sanitation campaign and advance his vision of a “clean, safe, and resilient Accra.”