As part of efforts to enhance sanitation, the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA), the Adentan Municipal Assembly, and other local assemblies in the Greater Accra Region have directed that all shops and markets be closed during the National Sanitation Day exercise scheduled for today (October 4).
The closure of the shops and markets will be in force from 6 a.m. until the completion of the exercise.
In a statement issued last Thursday, the AMA said the exercise was in accordance with the assembly’s by-laws, which were aimed at promoting public health and reducing the level of filth in the nation’s capital.
“This citywide exercise being undertaken to rid Accra of filth, promote public health and strengthen our shared responsibility for a cleaner, safer and more resilient city is in accordance with the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (Communal Labour) By-Laws, 2017, enacted pursuant to Section 181 of the Local Governance Act, 2016 (Act 936), which mandates the Assembly to set aside the first Saturday of the month as a National Sanitation Day,” the statement said.
The exercise also follows the re-launch of the National Sanitation Day by President John Dramani Mahama in September this year.
Compliance
The AMA urged residents, businesses, traders and shop owners to comply with the directive and actively participate in the exercise.
“Failure to comply constitutes an offence punishable on summary conviction by a fine of up to one hundred penalty units or imprisonment of not less than thirty days and not more than six months, or both, with a continuing offence attracting an additional daily penalty,” the statement added.
Support
Meanwhile, the Union of Informal Workers Association (UNIWA) of the Trades Union Congress (TUC) has thrown its weight behind the exercise announced by the AMA.
The union, which comprises hundreds of thousands of informal workers — including traders, artisans, market women, and service providers — welcomed the exercise, describing it as an initiative that would not only help clean Accra but also instil discipline.
It has, therefore, called on its members to actively support and participate in the clean-up exercise to help rid Accra of filth.
