The Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) has stepped up its campaign to enforce environmental sanitation laws, securing the conviction of 23 residents for various sanitation offences as part of a renewed crackdown to restore cleanliness in the metropolis.
The offenders, all first-time violators, were prosecuted before the Prempeh Assembly District Courts after being arrested during a special sanitation operation conducted at Dichemso on July 6 and 7, 2026.
Each of the accused pleaded guilty to the charges and was fined between 100 and 140 penalty units, equivalent to GH¢1,200 and GH¢1,800, depending on the nature of the offence. Those who fail to pay the fines will serve a 10-day prison sentence.
The cases were heard separately by Prempeh Assembly District Court One, presided over by Ms Deborah Gyaawa Donkoh, and Court Two, presided over by Mr Kwaku Ansah Akrofi.
The arrests were carried out by a special sanitation task force comprising environmental health officers and security personnel from the KMA, led by the Head of the Assembly’s Environmental Health Unit, Mr Kwaku Poku.
The enforcement exercise forms part of the Assembly’s revival of the historic “Samansaman” sanitation inspection programme, an initiative designed to ensure residents keep their homes and surroundings clean by holding offenders accountable.
According to the KMA, poor compliance with sanitation regulations over the years has contributed to deteriorating environmental conditions across the metropolis, creating health and environmental concerns.
The Assembly said the latest prosecutions demonstrate its resolve to strictly enforce sanitation by-laws after previously announcing plans to reintroduce routine inspections and sanctions against offenders.
Officials believe the intensified enforcement campaign will encourage residents to adopt proper waste disposal practices and take greater responsibility for maintaining clean neighbourhoods.
The KMA has reaffirmed its commitment to sustaining the exercise as part of broader efforts to restore Kumasi’s reputation as one of Ghana’s cleanest and safest cities while promoting public health through improved environmental sanitation.
