AN ONGOING SPECIAL sanitation task force, comprising technocrats and security officers from the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA), has so far led to the prosecution of 23 sanitation offenders.

Depending on the magnitude of their offences, all the offenders, who were first-time offenders, were fined between 100 and 140 penalty units, equivalent to GHS 1,200 and GHS 1,800 respectively, or in default, a prison term of 10 days.

The offenders were convicted separately by Prempeh Assembly District Court One and Court Two.

Her worship Deborah Gyaawa Donkoh presided over Court One, while His Worship Kwaku Ansah Akrofi presided over Court Two.

All pleaded guilty to their various offences on Monday and Tuesday.

Head of the Environmental Health Unit, Mr. Kwaku Poku arrested the 23 sanitation offenders in Dichemso on Monday, July 6, and Tuesday, July 7, 2026, where the exercise took place.

The arrests form part of KMA’s revival of the old-time ‘Samansaman’ system, a sanitary inspection exercise where people are penalized for failing to keep their surroundings clean.

According to KMA, progress on sanitation has been slow for some time, contributing to a poor sanitation environment and its associated consequences.

The Assembly had earlier announced that it would undertake the exercise and has now walked the talk to ensure Kumasi regains its clean and safe environment.

By Thomas Awuah Asem