The Taskforce of the Environmental Health Unit of Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolitan Assembly (STMA), has organised an unannounced swoop in open defecation-prone areas within the Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolis in the early hours of Thursday, August 8, 2024, and arrested ten (10) people for openly defecating. The arrests were made around Sekondi Kokompe, Esei Beach, Sekondi Market Gate Ekyir, Essaman and Takoradi. The offenders are middle-aged Sarah Matthew, Louis Ainoo (20 years), Sampson Cudjoe (21 years), Collins Adu (54 years), Patrick Ephraim (32 years), Evans Ennin (42 years), Emmanuel Kwofie (31 years), Agbeyirewo Awor (47 years), Eric Annan (43 years) and Kwesi Forson (32 years)

It will be recalled that the Assembly launched the “Operation Clean Your Surroundings Campaign” as part of the implementation of the Twin-Cities in Sustainable Partnership Project (TCSPP), which is geared towards ensuring good sanitary practices within communities in the Metropolis. However, some recalcitrant citizens have not given heed to this campaign and continue to flout directives leading to their arrest. The Metro Environmental Health Officer, Alhaji Abdul-Karimu Hudu, mentioned that the Assembly is doing all within its power to drum home a change of attitude amongst the citizenry. He further indicated that although the compliance rate has improved, the occasional arrests will still be pursued to help create the change we desire. He hinted that the culprits would be fined and others prosecuted if unable to pay the spot fine. “We are currently at the action stage and will not spare anyone caught in the act, be law abiding and do things to promote sanitation in your areas so that the clean city we envision will be realised”, he said.

END

---