The Takoradi Sub-Metro under the Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolitan Assembly (STMA) has arrested and prosecuted nine (9) persons for engaging in various sanitation offences.
The nine persons were found around areas such as Takoradi, Cape Coast Road (PTC – PWD Area) within the Central Business District (CBD) and Takoradi Kokompe Area.
This was part of a special operation embarked on by the Sanitation Taskforce of the Takoradi Sub-Metro from the 8th of December to the 16th of December, 2021.
Nana Asempa Neye, Takoradi Sub-Metro Director who briefed the Spice News about the operation said on Wednesday, 8th December 2021, three (3) people were arrested and two (2) successfully prosecuted and were fined GHc 1,800.00 each by the Takoradi District Court.
He said one of the three accused persons paid the fine of GHc 1,800.00, but the second person had to serve a prison sentence for three (3) months because he failed to raise the court fine while the third person had an out of court settlement and was fined GHc 500.00.
He narrated that on the second operation conducted on Saturday, 11th December 2021, two (2) persons were arrested and presented before Court on Monday, 13th December 2021 where all two were fined GHc 1,200.00 each of which one person successfully managed to pay while the other who could not pay was put in Police custody awaiting the results of the COVID-19 test before commencing his three months prison sentences.
Nana Neye further narrated that at the dawn of Monday, 13th December 2021, two others were arrested during the operation and were also prosecuted on the same day and fined GHc 700.00 each.
He said one person paid the court fine while the other pleaded not guilty and was taken into Police custody pending trial.
He announced that two other persons were also arrested on the night of Wednesday, 15th December 2021 pending prosecution.
He cautioned the general public, especially store owners and operators, as well as, households at the Takoradi CBD and other locations within the Metropolis to desist from handing over refuse to unknown persons to dump or deliberately putting refuse in the streets and other open spaces.
He pointed out that such practice was in violation of the Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolitan Assembly’s Sanitation Bye-laws and for that matter, culprits would be arrested and prosecuted.
Story: Seth A Danquah
