16 Arrested in Kumasi for Violating Environmental Safety Laws

Sixteen individuals in Kumasi have been arrested and taken to court by the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) for breaching environmental safety bye-laws.

The arrests follow a recent enforcement sweep as part of the assembly’s renewed efforts to combat the growing insanitary conditions and activities in the Ashanti regional capital.

Kwaku Poku, Head of the Environmental Health Unit at the KMA, revealed in an interview that the offenders, who are residents of the central business district, were involved in various violations.

Kumasi generates approximately 2,000 tons of solid waste daily, much of which is improperly disposed of, ending up in public drains and open spaces. The violations committed by the arrested individuals included allowing household waste to flow into public drains, neglecting to maintain clean surroundings, and indiscriminately dumping waste.

Poku confirmed that the offenders have been arraigned before the court and imposed fines for their violations. “We are actively enforcing the laws and arresting those who have disregarded environmental and sanitation regulations,” he stated. “Some of the offenders allowed their filth to flow into public drains, while others dumped waste indiscriminately.”

The enforcement also targeted food production sites with poor hygiene standards, including the Kumasi Abattoir. In collaboration with the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA), the KMA taskforce shut down a viral ice kenkey factory for unsanitary conditions at the Adehy3 Market.

Poku emphasized the importance of collaboration to effectively address the sanitation challenges in Kumasi. “We are working with the Kumasi Abattoir to address stray cattle on the streets, and we have closed the unsanitary ice kenkey factory. There is a need for better supervision of food-producing facilities and markets, and we are collaborating with the FDA to improve monitoring and eliminate filth,” he added.