The Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly has partnered with waste management company Zoomlion to disinfect markets and some public areas in the Ashanti regional capital.

The joint exercise started simultaneously across the city with about eight mechanized spraying trucks on Saturday.

The Central Business District received a good dose of the chlorine solution meant to rid surfaces of viruses and bacteria.

Shops were closed for about five hours as the team disinfected streets, alleys, frontage of shops and open spaces at Adum, PZ, Kejetia and other areas.

Mobile teams with mechanised spraying guns worked inside the new Central Market building and Acheamfour Market.

The Alabar commercial hub was the target of thorough disinfection to the admiration of shop owners.

Face masks directive

Before the disinfection exercise began, security personnel were seen taking persons without face masks to task by making them to pick litter on the old Central Market lane.

Ashanti Regional Minister Osei Mensah said this was to help in the implementation of the president’s mandatory wearing of face masks directive.

Other enforcement measures, he said, included detaining commercial vehicle drivers who were not wearing masks and transferring their passengers to different drivers to serve as a deterrent.