Accra, May 20, GNA - The Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) on Saturday organized a clean-up exercise in the Salaga Market, Bukom and James Town to rid the area of filth.

The exercise, which started at 0600 hours, saw many residents and some officials of the AMA and the Ashiedu Keteke Sub-Metro authorities working together to remove poly bags and other solid waste that had blocked many gutters in the area for some months now. Mr Jonathan Tackie Kommey, Member of Parliament for the Odododiodio, under which the three areas fall, also took part in the exercise.

Mr Abudulai Alhassan, Sub-Metro Director of the area, told GNA that the Assembly had secured three tipper trucks, two tractors, wheel barrows, head pans and other equipment to enable them to do the work. Asked why the three electoral areas did not have sanitary sites or refuse containers, he said the problem was due to the allocation of the sites to residents by previous Sub-Metro authorities for stores. He said the metro had issued an ultimatum to the shop owners to quit the place or face court action.

Mr Alhassan said the sub-metro had 17 refuse contractors who collected waste in the area and urged them to dispose of the waste regularly to ensure that the metropolis was always clean. A resident of the area bemoaned the situation where waste was left uncollected for several days saying this was contributing to the poor sanitation problem in the area.

Meanwhile, some traders were busy displaying their wares at the Salaga Market during the clean-up. When GNA spoke with one Ms Aye, a storeowner, she said she was there as early as 0530 hours to help in the exercise.

Some complained that they did not hear the announcement, which banned trading until noon.

Mr Kommey described the turn up as encouraging and commended the people for their public spirit. He urged them to maintain a clean environment to ensure a healthy living.

Officials from the Metropolitan Public Health Department of the AMA were around to disinfect the market.