The Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) is set to expand markets within the Greater Accra Region, to decongest the sidewalks.
The move which is in consonance with the “Operation Clean Your Frontage,” launched in Accra yesterday, would ensure a free movement of pedestrians on the sidewalks whilst guaranteeing a clean environment.
The campaign officially begun yesterday, where sanitation officers would arrest and persecute offenders.
The Metropolitan Chief Executive (MCE) of Accra, Mrs Elizabeth Kwatsoe Tawiah Sackey said “the law is going to be enforced to ensure the success of the campaign and the President’s vision of making Accra the cleanest capital city in Africa.”
“Because the traders sell outside the market on the pavement, they generate filth on the streets causing piles of refuse. We are hoping that today being the big day people who have been summoned earlier would do the needful as well as the other residents,” she hinted.
The MCE said that people, including the market queens who are in charge of the vendors had been educated enough to ensure compliance.
She explained that “the operation was not a one day show as people perceived, the day has come to stay and people advised to operate within the law.”
Mrs Sackey stated that, “persons who would flout the laws will be sanctioned without fear or favour.”
There was an educative drama to convey the importance of the project to the citizenry, highlighting some of the wrongs and challenges in addressing the issue of filth in the country.
People were informed in the drama about the consequences, including fines and imprisonment when caught improperly disposing of waste in the country.
The Head of the Market Women Association, Mercy Djan, lauded the government for the project, saying the programme was a step in the right direction.
She indicated that before the project the market women were taking steps to rid the markets of filth, “we had designated days to undergo cleanup exercises at the various market centres as part of our contribution towards a clean Accra.”
Mr Benjamin Yeboah of the Ghana Union of Traders Association (GUTA) on his part lauded the work of the MCE whilst pledging his support towards the success of the project.
He also called on the citizenry to support the project to the latter.
In attendance, were representatives of the Metropolitan Education Directorate; Transport Unions; Chiefs; Queen Mothers; Ga-Dangbe “Asafoatse”;Okaishie Traders Association and opinion leaders.
BY ANITA ANKRAH & JESSEL LARTEY THERSON-COFIE
