The Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) launched a judicial crackdown over the weekend, issuing summons to many commercial entities that defied the mandatory closure order to participate in the National Sanitation Day exercise on Saturday, October 4.

The action, described by city officials as a necessary step to enforce compliance, signals a new, stringent phase in the capital's sanitation campaign.

The synchronised clean-up operation, led by the Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, saw the Mayor of Accra, Michael Kpakpo Allotey, the Minister Ahmed Ibrahim, and the Ga Mantse, King Tackie Teiko Tsuru II, actively participating in key zones.

Mr. Gilbert Ankrah, Public Relations Officer of the AMA, confirmed the swift legal action taken against non-compliant businesses.

“What we noticed was that there were a couple of shop owners who had opened their shops, and quickly we had sanitation and public health officers moving in to deal with them.”

He confirmed that the offenders would face the law within days:

“They were given summons and will be arraigned before court on Monday,” Ankrah said on the Channel One Newsroom.

Enforcement: The Judiciary Steps In

The decision to escalate non-compliance to judicial prosecution marks a departure from reliance on fines alone, leveraging the Accra Sanitation Bye-laws (2017) which mandate participation in communal cleaning exercises.

Officials confirmed that public health and sanitation officers moved quickly, targeting commercial hubs and central business districts where large numbers of shops remained open despite public announcements.

The expected arraignment on Monday is projected to serve as a strong deterrent against future defiance.

Despite the non-compliance issues, Mr. Ankrah praised the public response in general, estimating a 30% rise in communal turnout compared to previous exercises.

“The participation was quite impressive. If you look at how people came out to support the exercise, it was very successful,” he said.

He noted that mop-up operations were continuing in heavy waste areas like the Agbogbloshie market zone, with the AMA targeting the collection of an estimated 500 tonnes of residual debris before Monday.

The Mayor has also declared the entire month of October as "Sanitation Month," indicating intensified clean-up operations will continue across the 13 Sub-Metropolitan Districts of the AMA area.

Minister Acknowledges Logistical Deficits

While commending the public effort, Minister Ahmed Ibrahim acknowledged significant structural hurdles still plaguing sanitation efforts nationwide. He pointed directly to a critical deficit in professional waste management equipment across the 16 regional capitals.

“Some assemblies are using tipper trucks to cart refuse. It’s unprofessional. As sector minister, I will take it up and ensure the cities get at least a few compactors,” he said.

The Minister revealed that a survey showed over 60% of Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) lack the requisite compactor trucks needed for efficient waste carting, instead relying on less hygienic tipper trucks.

He pledged government support to address this infrastructure deficit, with plans to procure an initial batch of 50 new compactors for the major cities.

Additionally, Mr. Ibrahim cited poor street lighting—affecting an estimated 45% of urban streets—as a major hindrance to conducting essential early-morning and night-time sanitation work.

He stated his Ministry is collaborating with the Ministries of Energy and Roads to launch an accelerated street-lighting project to enable extended clean-up hours and improve public safety for sanitation workers.