Abdul Mumin Issah, Mayor of STMA
The Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolitan Assembly (STMA) has arrested 10 people for open defecation at various locations within the metropolis.
The 10 were arrested by a task force under the assembly’s “Operation Clean Your Surroundings” Campaign.
They were fined GH¢400 each and cautioned to desist from the practice.
The names of the arrested persons apprehended at New Takoradi near the Goil Depot, were given as Francis Anderson, Adam Ussif, Kropah Wilson, Ishmael Jackson and George Aborah.
The rest were Robert Olu, arrested at Bakano, near Sekondi; Sadick Zakari, arrested at Bakaekyir also near Sekondi; Francis Dumson, arrested in Takoradi; Michael Thompson, arrested at Enam Ase, near Sekondi and David Ainoo, also arrested at Enam Ase.
The task force also undertook unannounced sanitation inspection visits to various households, eateries, hotels, pubs, bars, public toilets, transport terminals, and other locations across the Metropolis.
When the task force went out to the “Type A” vicinity in Takoradi those arrested included Thomas Addae, an operator of two public toilets in the area for connecting untreated effluent to public drain.
He was also operating an unauthorized bathhouse, had insanitary condition inside his toilet facility and broken slabs covering his septic tank.
He was fined GH¢1,300 and directed to correct all identified anomalies within two weeks or face closure of the facilities.
Kofi Ayim, a caretaker of a house in the “Type A” area, was also arrested for connecting untreated effluent from a septic tank to a public drain. He was fined GH¢500 and directed to seal the connection within 24 hours or face prosecution.
Operator of a Kenkey joint, Regina Sawyer, was also apprehended for operating with an expired medical certificate of fitness, insanitary drainage in front of her facility and cooking under insanitary conditions.
She was fined GH¢400 and the business was closed down. She was given three days to correct the identified challenges.
Another resident who was arrested was one Stephen Tandoh, the operator of HiBrand Printing Press. He was arrested for dumping and burning waste at the frontage of his facility and fined an amount of GH¢200.
A Waakye seller, Rabiatu Seidu, was also fined GH¢200 for operating with an expired medical certificate of fitness and insanitary cooking environment.
Hotel De Rueco in Takoradi was also fined an amount of GH¢300 for failing to renew it suitability certificate.
One Sampson Avorgbedor, a corn mill operator, was also arrested and fined GH¢300 for lack of medical certificate of fitness and operating under insanitary or unhygienic conditions.
A statement issued by the assembly and signed by its Public Relations Officer, John Laste, explained that the “Operation Clean Your Surroundings” campaign is aimed at sensitizing the public on the STMA’s sanitation by-laws, arrest, prosecute and name and shame sanitation-related offenders.
From Emmanuel Opoku, Takoradi