Former president Jerry John Rawlings has condemned people who indiscriminately dispose of refuse on the streets of Accra.

Rawlings, who was speaking on Saturday at the Asafotufiam Festival held in the Greater Accra Region, said it was time to deal ruthlessly with such people as part of measures to keep the capital clean.

The former leader, who was awarded by the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) and made a sanitation ambassador, said it was pity that the position was just a ceremonial one.

He said if the position was backed with power, he would jail at least five people every week until Accra was rid of filth.

“You are lucky the position given to me is just a ceremonial one. If I was acting in the actual capacity, I would jail about three to five people a week till Accra becomes clean again," he was quoted as saying citifmonline.com.

He said the measure was necessary to teach those who collect refuse and dump them by the roadside a lesson.