The Nkwanta South Municipal Assembly in the Oti Region is set to launch a strict enforcement campaign against poor sanitation practices following the passage of new by-laws aimed at improving hygiene and environmental cleanliness.
The Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), Mr. Joseph Awal Antwi, disclosed that the Assembly would soon begin prosecuting sanitation offenders to curb widespread littering, open defecation, and other unhygienic practices threatening public health.
Mr. Antwi made the announcement during a joint national sanitation exercise in Nkwanta, which saw participation from the Ghana Police Service, Ghana Immigration Service, Ghana National Fire Service, Zoomlion Ghana Limited, and the military. Their collective presence, he said, signified the government’s renewed commitment to making sanitation enforcement a national priority.
“The President is determined to make Ghana one of the cleanest countries in Africa, and that vision begins with discipline at the local level,” Mr. Antwi stated. “We will not hesitate to prosecute anyone who disregards the sanitation by-laws.”
He urged residents to take cleanliness seriously, emphasizing that proper sanitation prevents diseases such as cholera, typhoid, and malaria, which continue to affect communities in the area.
The MCE also called for peace and cooperation among residents, noting that development thrives only in an atmosphere of unity and order.
Member of Parliament for Nkwanta South, Mr. Geoffrey Kini, who joined the exercise, commended residents for their strong turnout and enthusiasm. He urged the public to adopt good hygiene habits and warned that the Assembly would no longer tolerate negligence.
“Sanitation officers have been directed to enforce the law strictly. Anyone found flouting these regulations will face prosecution,” Mr. Kini cautioned.
Adding his voice, Rev. Father Prosper Anebo, a Catholic priest who actively participated in the cleanup, called for harsher penalties for offenders to deter indiscipline and promote community ownership of the sanitation initiative.
He described sanitation as a shared moral and civic duty, urging residents to see cleanliness as part of their faith and responsibility to one another.
The Nkwanta South Municipality’s new by-laws mark a significant step toward strengthening sanitation enforcement, with authorities pledging sustained collaboration with security agencies and community leaders to ensure compliance.
