After a two-month hiatus due to heavy rains, the "Operation clean your surroundings" task force, a collaboration between Joy News and the Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolitan Assembly (STMA), resumed with full force. The mission: restore the twin-city's cleanliness and ensure strict adherence to hygiene and sanitation standards.

The team resumed its mission with fresh intensity, targeting public facilities and eateries violating hygiene standards.

Metro Environmental Director, Abdul Kareem Hudu led the operation, visibly displeased with the prevailing shocking conditions.

"It’s disheartening to see how carelessly hygiene has been treated," he remarked, vowing that such laxity would no longer be tolerated.

The team kicked off the renewed campaign in Kojokrom Zongo, where they were greeted by a disturbing sight. A dilapidated public toilet, operated by two men stood neglected, emitting foul odour that spread like an invisible fog. Weeds had overtaken the surroundings, casting a shadow of abandonment over the facility.

To make matters worse, the septic tank was visibly cracked, with raw sewage leaking into the area. With no hesitation, the task force shut the facility down and slapped the operators with a fine. The closure marked a strong message to other facility owners that such negligence would not be excused.

Moving deeper into the Kojokrom area, the task force uncovered more alarming sanitation violations. In Kojokrom Affulkrom, a similar scene unfolded at a toilet facility run by Michael Arthur. The air was thick with the stench of rotting waste from another defective septic tank, and the surroundings were blanketed in overgrown weeds. As if the insidious odours weren’t enough, Arthur had been burning refuse near the facility, causing plumes of smoke to mix with the already suffocating smell. It was an environmental disaster in the making.

The team acted swiftly, closing the facility and imposing a fine on Arthur for his dangerous disregard of public health.

The task force then directed focus toward Kojokrom’s bustling market area, where they inspected a chop bar operated by Esther Dadzie. Here, the disarray continued pots and utensils sat in a disorganized mess, and food preparation surfaces lacked proper hygiene.

To make matters worse, Esther did not possess a medical certificate of fitness, a crucial requirement for handling food. The team levied a fine against her and issued a stern warning: cleanliness isn’t optional, especially in the food business.

Just a short distance from the chop bar, another unhygienic establishment was operating in plain sight. Charity Nordzi’s drinking spot, although serving locals regularly, was far from sanitary.

The floors were dirty, and cleaning routines seemed like an afterthought. Once again, the task force issued a fine, stressing the need for proper sanitation in such public spaces.

As the day pressed on, the team journeyed to Fijai, where their final stop of the day revealed perhaps the most disturbing discovery.

A toilet facility owned by Moses Shebaa was not only unsanitary but infested with maggots and covered in cobwebs. The septic tank was defective, and the effluent was being dislodged manually, a highly unsafe and illegal practice.

The facility’s state was nothing short of a public health hazard. It was immediately closed, and Shebaa was heavily fined.

By the end of the operation, it was clear: the rains may have washed away the dust, but they hadn’t cleansed the city’s sanitation woes.

Metro Environmental Director Hudu didn’t mince words. “This isn’t just about cleanliness; it’s about protecting lives. Poor sanitation can lead to disease outbreaks, and we will not stand by and let that happen,” he warned.

The Operation Clean Your Surroundings initiative, in partnership with Joy News and STMA, has sent a strong message to residents and business owners alike. The twin-city of Sekondi-Takoradi is on a mission to reclaim its cleanliness, and offenders will be held accountable.

With public health at stake, the task force will continue its relentless pursuit of hygiene compliance, determined to create a healthier, safer city for all.

As the task force gears up for more inspections, the public is reminded that maintaining a clean environment is a shared responsibility. Follow the journey of the task force through Joy News’ ongoing coverage, where the next wave of inspections promises even greater accountability and change.