The Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) on Saturday undertook a massive clean-up exercise code named, “Jubilee Cleanup” to rid the city of filth before Ghana’s 50th Anniversary celebration on March 6. The clean-up was preceded by a demolition exercise at the Central Business District (CBD) of Accra of unapproved structures and stalls erected on the pavements and walkways by hawkers. The demolition was carried throughout the night from Friday 2100 hours to Saturday 1500 hours, creating room for free flow of traffic and pedestrians during the hours of the cleanup which started from 0600 hours to 1200 hours. The cleanup in the CBD however, started from around 0300 hours with members of the AMA, Zoomlion, National Youth Programme and the Fire Service completing the greater part of the work before morning. In the morning however, when the official time of the cleanup was to start, shoppers and traders, who came to the CBD stood watching in wait for the clock to strike 12 noon for them to commence business. The chiefs of Ga State, clad in red apparel to signal the commencement of the burial activities for the late Ga Mantse, Nii Amugi joined the Metro Chief Executive of AMA, Mr Stanley Adjiri Blankson, amidst drumming, singing of war songs and the firing of musketry to tour the CBD. The actions of the chiefs signified their approval of AMA’s action in decongesting the CBD as well as paving the way for the cleaning of the city before the commencement of the burial activities for their late Chief, Nii Amugi. Mr. Blankson said the Hawkers Market at Odawna near the Kwame Nkrumah Circle was now ready and opened for trading activities. He appealed to the hawkers to move to the new market to help decongest the CBD so that there would be free flow of vehicular traffic and pedestrians. He said the second phase of the Hawkers Market would be started in April if government is able to release funds. Mr Blankson therefore, appealed to all hawkers who were yet to be allocated stalls and sheds in the Hawkers Market to move to the satellite markets within the various sub-metros to continue with their trading activities. “We are not going to entertain any hawkers in the CBD,” he said, adding that the country would be hosting a lot of visitors in Accra, this year through the jubilee celebrations and other meetings and hence the need for free flow of movement through the CBD throughout the year. Mr Adjiri Blankson said the Agbogbloshie market would soon be closed down for a week for the whole market to be fumigated and cleaned, after discussion with the traders. “We want to do this to rid the market of rodents and other livestock that might pose danger to the lives of the traders,” he said. The Tema Municipal Chief Executive, Mr David Annan, who was with the AMA boss appealed to the media, the security services and the entire populace of Accra to collaborate with the AMA in keeping Accra clean. “The act of decongesting the CBD is a collaborative effort by all,” he said. Staff of Zoomlion, a waste collection company, were readily at hand during the cleanup exercise clearing all the heaps of rubbish that had been created. A visit to Alajo around midday showed that the residents there had worked assiduously to keep their environment clean. The Regional Minister Sheikh I. C. Quaye, who participated in the cleanup in his area, said his constituents believed in the adage that “cleanliness was next to Godliness” and also a clean environment promoted good health, hence the need for collective involvement in the clean-up exercise. Source GNA