The Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) Sanitation Court convicted eight individuals for open defecation on Saturday, with seven remanded into prison custody after failing to pay a fine of 50 penalty units equivalent to 600 cedis.
The court imposed the penalty on each offender following their arrest during a night time enforcement operation conducted in parts of Accra including Bubuashie, Jamestown and Chorkor. While one of the convicts, Raphael Adjetey, settled the fine and was discharged, the remaining seven were unable to pay and were subsequently remanded.
Those remanded into custody are Samuel Aryeequaye, Evans Derry, Kwesi Milla, Richard Quintin Coffie, Seidu Aminu, Awuaaba Michael and Quarcoo Ernest. The seven will remain in prison until they pay the fines or serve an alternative custodial sentence.
Speaking after proceedings, Head of Public Affairs at the AMA Gilbert Nii Ankrah stated that the exercise was led by the Head of the Environmental Health Department Florence Kuukyi alongside Environmental Health Officers. He explained that the Assembly has intensified efforts to clamp down on unsanitary practices across the metropolis.
According to Ankrah, the Environmental Health Department has commenced 24 hour operations to ensure strict compliance with sanitation by laws. He added that officers are maintaining continuous monitoring both day and night to reduce public nuisance and safeguard public health.
The arrests were made during a special enforcement exercise targeting areas identified as sanitation hotspots where open defecation remains a persistent challenge. The convicts were found guilty of breaching the Assembly’s sanitation by laws under the Public Health Act 2012 Act 851 and the AMA Sanitation and Public Health Bye-laws 2017.
The AMA stated in a social media post that the convictions serve as a strong deterrent and reminder that offenders who fail to comply with sanitation laws will face legal consequences. Authorities emphasized that sustained public cooperation will be critical in achieving lasting improvements in urban sanitation standards.
Ankrah urged residents to desist from open defecation and to make use of approved sanitary facilities, warning that the Assembly would continue arrests and prosecutions to deter offenders and promote a cleaner city. He emphasized that the intensified enforcement represents a serious commitment to improving environmental cleanliness in the capital.
The AMA has in recent months stepped up enforcement measures as part of broader efforts to improve environmental cleanliness and reduce health risks associated with poor sanitation in Accra. The Assembly previously conducted similar operations in October 2025, resulting in convictions of seven persons for open defecation and illegal dumping.
In that exercise, offenders were also fined 50 penalty units equivalent to 600 cedis or faced three months imprisonment in default. The October 2025 convictions were presided over by Her Lordship Rosemond Vera Aryeetey, with prosecutor Nii Okine Aryee handling the cases.
The current enforcement drive forms part of what officials described as the Reset Accra agenda, reflecting renewed determination to enforce sanitation by laws and restore environmental discipline in the capital. The 24 hour operations represent an escalation from previous enforcement patterns that primarily occurred during daytime hours.
Open defecation remains a significant public health challenge in many parts of Accra, particularly in densely populated low income communities where access to toilet facilities is limited. Health experts have consistently linked poor sanitation practices to the spread of diseases including cholera, typhoid fever and other waterborne illnesses.
The Oti Region reported over 23,000 typhoid fever cases in the first half of 2025, largely linked to unhygienic practices and contaminated water sources according to health authorities. Similar sanitation enforcement efforts in Dambai resulted in over 100 convictions in September 2025, with fines ranging from 600 to 840.44 cedis representing 50 to 70 penalty units.
The Public Health Act 2012 Act 851 provides the legal framework for prosecuting sanitation offences across Ghana. Section 56 specifically addresses open defecation and indiscriminate refuse dumping, empowering Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies to arrest and prosecute offenders.
Records show that in 2022 alone, over 470 sanitation offenders were prosecuted for similar offences across the Accra metropolis. The AMA Sanitation Court was established to expedite prosecution of sanitation related offences and strengthen deterrence against unhygienic practices.
Some assemblies across Ghana are following Accra’s example in establishing dedicated sanitation courts. The Cape Coast Metropolitan Assembly announced in December 2025 that it plans to establish a Sanitation Court by the end of 2026 as part of measures to address persistent sanitation challenges.
Environmental health prosecutors emphasized that enforcement measures are not punitive for the sake of punishment but are meant to deter potential polluters and protect public health. Officials stressed that creating a clean and healthy environment requires both infrastructure provision and strict enforcement of existing laws.
The AMA has cautioned that similar enforcement exercises will continue until the city achieves compliance with sanitation standards. The Assembly called on residents to support the ongoing Clean Accra campaign and cooperate with enforcement officers conducting monitoring and surveillance operations.
Authorities urged households without toilet facilities to register with the Assembly for assistance in constructing approved sanitary infrastructure. The AMA also warned that residents who give waste to unauthorized collectors will face prosecution alongside the collectors themselves.
