Accra, Jan. 30, GNA - Nearly two billion cedis was spent on last Saturday's massive cleanup exercise in Accra, Mr Stanley Adjiri-Blankson, Metropolitan Chief Executive said on Monday. In an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in Accra, Mr Adjiri-Blankson said about one billion cedis was used to purchase logistics which included 1,000 wheelbarrows; 2,000 pairs of rubber gloves; 2,000 pairs of Wellington boots; 1,500 forks; 1,500 shovels; 1,500 rakes and the hiring of 136 tipper trucks for the exercise. He said the volume of filth along the beach and portions of the markets needed more than a day to clear, adding that debris, which was left along some streets and gutters for the water to drain out, would be cleared on Monday.

Mr Adjiri-Blankson said the AMA would this year, vigorously enforce its byelaw which sets aside one Saturday of each month as 'Health Day' for all able-bodied youth and adults to tidy their communities. He said students in first and second cycle institutions would be required to hand-pick plastic waste on the second Saturday of every month, while the adult population took their turn every last Saturday of the month.

The Metropolitan Chief Executive said measures would be instituted to ensure that all communities within Accra participated in the next cleanup exercise, adding that the Assembly was targeting opinion leaders to help to sensitise the general public on the need for cleanliness. "Nobody is going to be pampered anymore and if it means prosecuting people to achieve results, so be it, " he said.

He said the Assembly would work closely with the Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU) and other related bodies to penalise commercial vehicle drivers who flouted the regulation.

He expressed the hope that the proposed hawkers market at Odawna in Accra would be completed by May 2006 to accommodate 4,000 sheds. He commended Vice President Alhaji Aliu Mahama; Sheikh I.C. Quaye, Greater Accra Regional Minister, Major Courage Quashigah (rtd), Minister of Health, the Customs, Excise and Preventive Service; Prison Service; Ghana Armed Forces and all other government officials and corporate bodies that supported the exercise.