The Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) has stepped up efforts to tackle poor sanitation in the Ashanti Regional capital, resulting in the arrest and prosecution of 13 individuals for violating environmental health regulations.
The arrests were made during the Assembly’s ongoing sanitation enforcement exercise, dubbed “Samansaman,” which has been reintroduced to address growing concerns over waste management and environmental cleanliness in various communities across Kumasi.
A joint team comprising military personnel and environmental health officers from the KMA conducted a surprise inspection in the Dichemso area, targeting residential properties, businesses, religious institutions and hospitality establishments.
During the operation, officials identified numerous sanitation infractions, including heaps of refuse within compounds and heavily clogged drains filled with plastic waste and silt, which hindered the proper flow of water and posed potential health risks.
While several residents complied with orders to clean their surroundings, others failed to cooperate, leading to arrests and subsequent legal action.
One of the individuals apprehended was an administrator of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Authorities cited unsanitary conditions around the church premises as the basis for the enforcement action.
KMA Public Relations Officer Henrietta Afia Konadu Aboagye explained that the administrator was informed about the sanitation concerns and asked to accompany the task force but reportedly declined to do so.
She noted that officials gave her time to reach out to church leaders before deciding to proceed with the arrest after repeated efforts to secure her cooperation proved unsuccessful.
Environmental Health Officer Kwaku Poku said the renewed sanitation campaign is part of a broader effort to restore Kumasi’s image as the “Garden City of Ghana” through strict enforcement of environmental laws.
He emphasized that the exercise will continue across the metropolis and warned that individuals and institutions that fail to maintain clean surroundings will face prosecution.
According to KMA, the operation is intended to promote environmental responsibility among residents and ensure that communities remain clean, safe and healthy for all.
The Assembly has pledged to sustain the campaign as part of its long-term strategy to improve sanitation standards throughout the city.
