A former Mayor of Accra, Alfred Oko Vanderpuije, has urged the government to implement strict sanitation laws including the effective utilization of sanitation courts.

According to him, that will help tackle indiscriminate refuse disposal and other environmental issues.

Contributing to sanitation discussions on Citi Breakfast Show on Friday, July 17, 2026, he emphasised that maintaining a clean and safe environment results from the obedience to implemented standards and strict enforcement of laws.

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“I think that what we need to recognize is that it takes standards to maintain our expectations. If we have standards, then we must rise up to ensure and enforce the standards,” he said.

The former Mayor further questioned the absence of Ghana’s sanitation courts stressing that it should begin effective operation to deal with sanitation offenders.

“Where are our sanitation courts? Our sanitation courts must be in place. And we must enforce. We must arrest offenders and enforce the laws,” he questioned.

He also criticised tricycle refuse operators of the illegal dumping of refuse, adding that despite the fact that they have been given the opportunity to earn a living, some avoid paying disposal fees at the dumping sites hence they offload the refuse at inappropriate places.

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“Aboboyaa trucks and Aboboyaa drivers, they should not run our cities. They have been given the opportunity to earn a living. The problem is that when they go to the sites where they have to dump, they don’t want to pay. So, they find a way, and they dump by the wayside,” he said.

Oko Vanderpuije called for the arrest and prosecution of those offenders.

“They should be arrested immediately. They must be taken to court, and they must be disciplined. The enforcement needs to happen. Our cities and city authorities cannot give up on this fight,” he added.

Reacting to the passage of the Public Tribunals Bill, 2026, Oko Vanderpuije said the new system should be implemented and used at the district and regional levels to tackle sanitation related offences which he described as a deteriorating issue in the country.

“Yesterday, we passed a bill to introduce tribunals. Let us then look at it. It is going to be at the district level, at the regional level, and use this court system to bring sanity into our country. It is now getting out of hand. We need to stand up,” he said.

RAD/VPO