South Tongu: Madam Victoria Dzeklo, the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) of South Tongu, has described the sanitation conditions at the Dabala and Sogakope markets as alarming, citing the volume of waste recovered during a major clean-up exercise as evidence of neglect and significant health risks. ‘The volume of waste we pulled from these gutters is shocking,’ Madam Dzeklo stated. ‘This is not just a threat to the environment, but a danger to public health. Maintaining sanitation cannot rest on the Assembly alone-it is a shared civic duty.’
According to Ghana News Agency, her comments came during a large-scale clean-up campaign organized by the South Tongu Municipal Assembly (STMA) in partnership with Zoomlion Ghana Limited and the Environmental Health Office. The operation targeted key market centres and surrounding communities in response to rising concerns over blocked drains, littering, and unsanitary trading environments.
Participating in the exercise were Mr Maxwell Kwame Lukutor, Member of Parliament (MP) of South Tongu, Assembly Members, Environmental Health Officers, Zoomlion workers, and some residents. Over the course of the exercise, teams weeded surroundings, cleared drains, and removed large volumes of plastic waste and debris from critical drainage points, especially near the Sogakope traffic light area.
The Ghana News Agency observed that despite prior notice, some market traders refused to join the exercise and continued selling near choked gutters. The MCE and MP had to personally intervene to ensure compliance. Officials said this reflected a broader issue of community disengagement from sanitation efforts.
Madam Dzeklo announced that traders who failed to keep their premises clean would face immediate penalties. ‘From now on, the Assembly will impose spot fines of GHS 100 on vendors who maintain filthy surroundings,’ she said. Mr Lukutor supported the measure, warning that persistent poor sanitation could trigger cholera outbreaks and other preventable diseases. ‘Public health must be protected. It is not only about personal safety, but about the wellbeing of everyone who interacts with these markets,’ he added.
Mr. Samuel Glago, the Municipal Environmental Health Officer, commended the leadership and turnout but emphasized that sustainable change requires continuous effort. ‘This clean-up must become part of our municipal culture, not a one-off event,’ he said. Assembly Members from Sogakope Central and Agorta Electoral Areas unanimously called for regular monthly clean-up exercises, particularly ahead of the rainy season, to prevent flooding and health emergencies.
Some market women at Dabala, who initially hesitated but later participated in the exercise, acknowledged the improved market environment. Madam Abla Ahiagba, speaking on behalf of her colleagues, encouraged fellow traders to take responsibility for their stalls to support a cleaner and more hygienic trading space. The Assembly reiterated its commitment to enforcing sanitation by-laws and sustaining public education as part of a broader strategy to improve environmental hygiene across the municipality.