AMA sanitation court jails seven for open defecation in Accra

The Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) has intensified its war on insanitary practices, with its Sanitation Court convicting and remanding seven individuals into prison custody for open defecation.

The seven were sentenced after they failed to pay a fine of 50 penalty units, equivalent to GH¢600, following their arrest in various parts of the city. A eighth offender, Raphael Adjetey, who was convicted on the same charge, was able to pay the fine and was discharged.

The convicts have been identified as Samuel Aryeequaye, Evans Derry, Kwesi Milla, Richard Quintin Coffie, Seidu Aminu, Awuaaba Michael, and Quarcoo Ernest.

The arrests were made during a late-night enforcement operation conducted by Environmental Health Officers in the communities of Bubuashie, Jamestown, and Chorkor. The operation was led by the Head of the AMA Environmental Health Department, Florence Kuukyi.

Speaking after the court proceedings, the Head of Public Affairs at the AMA, Gilbert Nii Ankrah, confirmed that the Assembly is adopting a zero-tolerance approach to sanitation offenses.

“The AMA Environmental Health Department has commenced 24-hour operations to ensure compliance with sanitation by-laws,” Mr. Ankrah stated. “Our officers have sustained day-and-night monitoring to curb public nuisance and protect public health.”

The move signals a significant crackdown by the Assembly to enforce its by-laws and curb the health hazards associated with open defecation within the metropolis.