AMA warns of sanctions for non-compliance with November 7 sanitation exercise

The Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) has warned residents, traders and businesses in the metropolis that individuals found operating during the November edition of the National Sanitation Day exercise or obstructing clean-up activities will face legal sanctions.

The exercise is scheduled for Saturday, November 7, 2026, from 6:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon across the Accra Metropolis.

In a statement issued on , the Assembly disclosed that it had so far prosecuted 27 offenders for failing to participate in previous clean-up exercises as part of efforts to enforce sanitation regulations and promote responsible environmental practices.

It stressed, however, that the exercise was not intended to generate revenue through fines and penalties but to promote behavioural change, encourage public participation and instil a culture of cleanliness among residents.

The November exercise will involve sweeping streets and public spaces, desilting choked drains, clearing weeds, removing accumulated refuse and cleaning markets, lorry parks, commercial centres and residential communities.

The activities will be undertaken in accordance with the AMA (Communal Labour) By-laws, 2017.

The Assembly said it would deploy Environmental Health Officers, members of its Sanitation Task Force and other enforcement personnel to monitor compliance across the metropolis.

Residents have consequently been urged to clean their immediate surroundings, clear weeds and drains in front of their premises, and properly gather waste for collection and evacuation.

The AMA has also appealed to traditional authorities, religious leaders, market associations, transport unions, youth groups, corporate institutions and other stakeholders to mobilise their members and support the exercise.

It urged residents, traders and business operators to participate actively, emphasising that maintaining a clean and healthy environment was a shared responsibility that should not be left solely to sanitation workers and local authorities.

The statement was signed by the AMA Head of Public Affairs, Gilbert Nii Ankrah, on behalf of the Metropolitan Chief Executive.