The Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA), in collaboration with Sanitation Ghana, a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) has organised a massive clean-up exercise and desilting works at the Agbogbloshie Market.

The primary goal of the exercise, which commenced in the early hours of Saturday, June 1, 2024, was to address the issues of sanitation and food safety to improve the living conditions of residents in Accra.

In an interview with the media, Accra's Mayor, Hon. Elizabeth K.T. Sackey, emphasised the importance of continuing the exercise in the future to avoid health complications associated with filthy environments.

She advised traders on best practices and the proper way of handling foodstuffs for public consumption and used the opportunity to urge them to use nets to protect consumables in the future.

Mayor Sackey admonished the traders of the existence of a sanitation court to enforce AMA bye-laws by arresting and fining individuals who violate the sanitation laws.

“I am sure the market women will abide by it and we will have a continuous sanitation and clean-up exercise. The Regional Minister has given us a work plan to sustain the exercise,” she said.

She charged Market Queens to prevent traders from mounting their containers on drains to allow for regular desilting works and warned them to desist from corrupt acts that allow for such activities to occur at the market.

Director of Sanitation Ghana, Dr Derek Otoo Essam, said the NGO was committed to solving issues of filth and sanitation across Ghana, and the partnership with AMA was opened to mark National Sanitation Day.

According to him, Agbogbloshie Market, one of the vibrant markets in Accra, was polluted, creating health problems and flooding issues, hence the massive clean-up exercise.

He educated the traders on the need to keep the environment clean to curb and combat problems resulting from a filthy environment.

Vice President of Agbogbloshie Market, Hannah Naa Borkah Addy, reminded the traders of a sanitation court to punish individuals who pollute the environment, pleading with the traders to sustain the exercise to transform the market.