The Weija-Gbawe Municipal Assembly has intensified its enforcement of the National Sanitation Day exercise, which took place on Saturday.
Ahead of the clean-up, officials moved through communities urging residents and shop owners to clean their surroundings, including gutters and open spaces.
Sanitation remains a major national challenge, worsened by the indiscriminate dumping of refuse in public areas.
To tackle this, the Environmental Health and Sanitation Unit, together with Hon. Lamptey, conducted a post-clean-up monitoring exercise across parts of the Gbawe-Mallam area to assess compliance.
The team observed that while some residents and shop owners had actively participated and maintained cleanliness, others failed to meet the required standards.
The Head of the Municipal Environmental Health Unit, Madam Mariama Braima, disclosed that sanctions had been applied to offenders.
“We locked the shops of those who refused to clean their gutters. They will have to clean up, report to our office, and pay a fine of 500 Ghana cedis before we re-inspect and reopen their shops,” she said.
She clarified that the move was not punitive but corrective. “This is not punishment; it’s a step toward creating a healthier environment for all of us. Everyone must take responsibility.”
Hon. Felix Odartey Lamptey emphasised the need for community involvement in maintaining cleanliness stating that the aim of the exercise was to make Gbawe a clean and safe place to live.
He further urged residents to prioritize sanitation over social engagements on designated clean-up days.
“We are encouraging everyone to postpone social events like weddings, funerals, and naming ceremonies on that day so we can all come out and clean. This is not the job of a few people; it’s a collective duty.”
Responding to complaints from some residents who claimed they were not informed about the exercise, Hon. Lamptey maintained:
“We made announcements in the area before the clean-up. People should not wait to be reminded every time. Cleanliness should be part of our everyday lives.”
He assured that the Assembly will sustain the monitoring efforts to ensure everyone is doing their part towards making the country cleaner and healthier.
Story By: Fati Ali Wehyemeh
