Agona Environmental Health sets up Environmental Police to clamp down on sanitation offenders

The Head of the Environmental Health Department of the Agona West Municipal Assembly, Mr. Mac Dzodzodzie, has announced the formation of a dedicated Environmental (Sanitation) Police Unit with a stern warning to residents who habitually dump refuse into gutters and drains, leading to frequent blockages.

According to him, the newly formed unit will patrol communities and monitor individuals who engage in indiscriminate waste disposal, especially during rainfall when some residents deliberately take advantage of the situation to dump rubbish into drains.

“They have been well trained to carry out their duties diligently, just as it was in the days of the ‘Samansan’ (Tankas), to ensure our environment remains clean and tidy at all times,” he said.

Mr. Dzodzodzie made these remarks during an interaction with the media shortly after a cleanup exercise held in Agona Swedru to mark the monthly sanitation day.

He noted that extensive public education has already been carried out across the Agona West Municipality, and therefore anyone caught engaging in sanitation-related offences will face the full rigours of the law.

He expressed appreciation to residents who defied the heavy rains to participate in the cleanup exercise and encouraged more community involvement in future activities.

“This shows the commitment of the people, and I must commend them, especially in this rainy season. We must be mindful of environmentally related diseases. Let us create a serene environment in our homes, shops, and public spaces. This will go a long way to reduce the diseases we bring upon ourselves,” the Environmental Health Officer emphasized.