Afigya Kwabre South Assembly summons 17 individuals over sanitation offences

The Afigya Kwabre South District Assembly in the Ashanti Region has summoned 17 individuals and institutions for prosecution over alleged sanitation offences detected during the nationwide National Clean-up Exercise.

The Assembly said the offenders breached the district's environmental sanitation bylaws and are expected to appear before court as part of efforts to enforce compliance with sanitation regulations.

Among those cited is the Shell filling station at Afrancho, which was accused of allowing large quantities of refuse to accumulate on its premises.

The Assembly also found several business operators to be in breach of sanitation regulations after their shop frontages and surrounding areas were left unclean despite ongoing public education and directives aimed at improving environmental hygiene.

The enforcement exercise formed part of a district-wide clean-up campaign involving personnel from the Ghana Police Service, churches, non-governmental organisations, Assembly staff and community members. Participants cleared refuse dumps, desilted choked drains and cleaned drainage channels across various communities.

Speaking to Kumasi FM during the exercise, the District Environmental Health Analyst, Kwame Kusi Agyemang-Badu, said most of the offenders were identified in the Buoho and Afrancho communities.

He disclosed that the Assembly had begun legal processes to arraign the offenders before court on Monday, explaining that the move is intended to serve as a deterrent to others who disregard environmental sanitation laws.

The District Coordinating Director, Yakubu Baba Seidu Kamara, also criticised residents who continue to flout sanitation regulations despite repeated public awareness campaigns.

He urged residents and business owners to adopt proper waste management practices and work closely with the Assembly to maintain a clean, healthy and environmentally safe district.