Some residents of Tema and Accra have called on the government and metropolitan, municipal and district assemblies (MMDAs) to strictly enforce sanitation laws to sustain the gains of the National Clean-Up Exercise and improve environmental cleanliness.

They said stronger enforcement of existing sanitation regulations would help curb indiscriminate waste disposal, prevent drains from becoming choked and reduce the risk of flooding during the rainy season.

Madam Barbara Appiah, a resident of Tema, told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) that political interference should not prevent the authorities from prosecuting sanitation offenders.

She urged the government to ensure that sanitation laws were applied fairly to all persons, irrespective of their social or political affiliations.

Mr Joseph Kojo Boadi, another resident, called for stricter enforcement of frontage cleaning regulations and appealed to MMDAs to strengthen their environmental health units to monitor compliance with sanitation bye-laws.

He said landlords and business owners who failed to maintain the surroundings of their premises should be sanctioned.

Mr Agyeman Yaw Acheampong advocated the establishment of dedicated sanitation courts to facilitate the speedy prosecution of persistent environmental offenders.

He said swift enforcement would serve as a deterrent and encourage greater public compliance with sanitation regulations.

Mr Laryea Armah, a resident of Accra, suggested that markets and businesses should participate actively in national clean-up exercises, while Mrs Oforiwaa Agbado called for the provision of adequate public waste bins and improved waste management services to complement enforcement measures.

The residents maintained that combining strict enforcement with improved waste management infrastructure would promote cleaner communities and contribute to reducing flood risks.