Ten residents of Ablekuma North in the Greater Accra Region have been summoned to court for failing to participate in a mandatory clean-up exercise organised by the Ablekuma North Municipal Assembly on Saturday, September 13, 2025, as part of National Sanitation Day activities.

According to a 3news.com report, the assembly issued notices directing all residents, shop owners, and businesses to join the clean-up and refrain from opening their premises until the exercise concluded.

However, some residents and shop owners defied the directive, prompting the assembly’s taskforce, led by the Environmental Department, to issue summons for non-compliance.

The Environmental Officer for Ablekuma North Municipality, Ruby Enyram Banini, emphasised the importance of community participation in maintaining a clean environment.

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“This clean-up exercise is supposed to help people. It rests on the shoulders of residents because we live in an environment that must be kept clean.

“We made announcements and issued letters to inform the public that they must participate. Those who did not comply will be summoned to court,” she added.

Banini noted that the names of participants were recorded, while notices of non-compliance were issued to those who failed to join.

“Some people are even fighting us for enforcing participation. We are going to summon all these people to court,” she added.

The environmental officer stressed that the initiative transcends politics and is vital for community well-being.

Ablekuma North Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), Adamu Musa Kalamu, who led the exercise from dawn to midday, confirmed that ten individuals have been summoned for opening their shops during the clean-up, violating the assembly’s by-laws on “Operation Clean Up Your Frontage.”

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“If you open your shop, they issue you with summons, pen down your name, and then the necessary action is taken against you.

“They will have to appear at the office to explain why action should not be taken against them,” the MCE added.

The clean-up, which involved assembly members, the municipal coordinating director, and community police assistants, targeted main roads and residential areas to promote a cleaner environment and address sanitation challenges.

Adamu Kalamu noted that this was his eighth clean-up exercise since taking office, in addition to monthly efforts, and described the community response as positive.

GA/AE

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