Six individuals were convicted by the Prempeh Assembly District Court for illegally dumping waste at the Otumfuo Roundabout in Kejetia, Kumasi, following a dawn operation by the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) on Monday, May 11, 2026. The crackdown addresses persistent complaints about unsanitary conditions in a prominent city location.
Context of the Crackdown
The KMA’s action stems from ongoing issues with indiscriminate waste disposal, particularly in high-traffic areas like the Otumfuo Roundabout. This landmark, situated in the heart of the Ashanti regional capital, has become a recurring eyesore due to the actions of habitual offenders.
The assembly has been receiving sustained complaints from the public, highlighting the negative impact of the littering on the city’s aesthetics and public health. In response, the KMA implemented a tactical operation to apprehend those responsible.
Operation and Court Proceedings
In the early hours of Monday, the KMA’s sanitation task force conducted a tactical ambush operation. The exercise successfully apprehended six individuals, comprising three women and three men, who were allegedly engaged in illegal dumping at approximately 5:30 a.m.
The accused were promptly presented before the Prempeh Assembly District Court and pleaded guilty to violating the assembly’s sanitation by-laws. Presiding Magistrate Deborah Gyaawa Donkoh found all six guilty.
The court imposed a fine of 100 penalty units, equivalent to GH¢1,200, on each offender. This penalty is intended to serve as a strong deterrent against future sanitation offenses.
Sentencing and Enforcement
The convicted individuals were identified as Atta Gyamfi, 55; Manuna Ishawu, 24; Veronica Maako, 31; Mariama Iddrisu, 64; Kwadwo Amuzu, 37; and Ebenezer Atakorah, 25.
A crucial aspect of the ruling was the consequence for non-payment of the fine. The court stipulated that failure to settle the GH¢1,200 penalty would result in a 10-day custodial sentence.
While five of the convicts were able to pay their fines immediately, Ebenezer Atakorah defaulted and was subsequently taken into custody to serve his 10-day prison term.
KMA’s Stance on Sanitation
Henrietta Aboagye, the Public Relations Officer for the KMA, detailed the assembly’s strategy. She confirmed that the operation was a direct response to ongoing issues and that the KMA is adopting a zero-tolerance policy towards littering.
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