The Mayor of Accra, Hon Michael Kpakpo Allotey, has announced a new shift system for street sweepers under the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA), aimed at improving efficiency and ensuring a cleaner city.

Per the new system, sweepers would now be grouped into two, those working in the morning and others in the afternoon, with specific working hours adjusted between 6 a.m. and 2:00 p.m.

Addressing the street sweepers at a meeting on Wednesday, the Mayor said the restructuring of working hours was to better accommodate workers’ capacities while enhancing productivity.

The Mayor noted that the decision was informed by challenges faced by some workers, particularly the elderly and those unable to report early in the morning.

He stressed that the new arrangement would help maximise output while taking into account individual strengths and circumstances.

He warned that the new system would be strictly enforced, stating that any sweeper who failed to carry out assigned duties risked having their salary reduced or being removed entirely from the payroll, stressing that the Assembly could not continue to pay workers who did not contribute effectively while others remained committed.

The Mayor reiterated his commitment to workers’ welfare, highlighting that salaries had recently been increased by about 100 per cent to improve their livelihoods, adding that the increment was part of a broader effort to motivate workers, but emphasised that it must be matched with improved performance.

He assured the sweepers that the Assembly remained committed to timely salary payments, stressing that no worker on the payroll should experience delays.

On logistics, the Mayor announced that the Assembly would begin distributing brooms to sub-metropolitan offices on Friday for onward distribution to sweepers.

The Mayor stressed the importance of teamwork and regular engagement, indicating that the Assembly would hold monthly meetings with the sweepers to address concerns and improve coordination.

The Mayor warned that he would not hesitate to take decisive action if sanitation standards did not improve, stating that he would first hold supervisors responsible before addressing individual workers found to be underperforming.