Shop owner sentenced for failing to participate in clean-up exercise

The Hohoe Magistrate Court has sentenced Esther Ofori, a provision shop owner, for her refusal to participate in a communal clean-up exercise organised by the Hohoe Municipal Assembly on a National Sanitation Day

Her refusal is contrary to section 21, subsections 4 (i), (ii) and (v) of the Hohoe Municipal Assembly bye-laws, 2018.

Ofori pleaded guilty and was sentenced on her own plea to a sum of GH¢240 and will serve one-month imprisonment if she defaults.

Daniel Dotse Eklo, Environmental Health Analyst, prosecuting, told the court presided over by the relieving judge, Lambert Y. Keriba, that the convict on Thursday, July 2, 2026, refused to participate in a communal clean-up exercise organized by the Assembly on National Sanitation Day.

He said the Assembly had set every first Thursday of each month as a communal clean-up day or National Sanitation Day between 0600 and 1000 hours to improve sanitation in the Hohoe township.

Eklo said during the exercise days, no business premises should operate between the hours except pharmaceutical or drug stores or others that offered emergency health or humanitarian services.

He said bar keepers, chop bar operators, market traders and shop and storekeepers using their own resources should undertake cleaning of market and sheds, clean front of their shops and desilt drains during the clean-up period.

Eklo said on the said day at about 0922 hours, when the Municipal Sanitation Taskforce was going round to supervise communal clean-up in Atabu area, they saw the accused who had opened her store and was selling to the public.

He said her refusal to participate was unlawful hence, was subsequently served with the court summons.

Source: GNA