Accra, April 1, GNA - Mr. Stanley Adjiri Blankson, Chief Executive of the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) on Saturday expressed concern about the level of public apathy towards the second massive clean-up exercise intended to rid the city of filth and posters.

He said such indifference by residents of the metropolis regarding the AMA clean-up campaign does not augur well for safety and development of the capital.

"I am not impressed at all with this exercise. What we saw today is not anything to write home about"

Mr Adjiri Blankson made this comment during the second phase of the clean-up exercise by the assembly to clear the metropolis of rubbish, weed bushy surrounding and remove posters pasted on unauthorized structures in the city.

Before the exercise got underway around 0630 hours most shops owners in the business district of the capital and commercial drivers were banned from operating till 1200 hours.

Even though the exercise started well as planned and went on for over six hours, it did not witness the massive turnout as the January 28, 2006 clean-up campaign.

Members of the AMA task force and some residents of the metropolis de-silted gutters and drains, weeded bushy surroundings and clearing of mounting refuse dumps.

The military joined their civil counterparts in de-silting the drains along Burma Camp-Trade fair road while the Ghana National Fire Service provided water for the flushing of de-silted drains and removal posters on the various overhead bridges in the capital.

Mr. Adjiri Blankson said the AMA from the beginning of next month was going to implement its bye-laws to its logical conclusion. "If by mistake in the course of implementing the bye-laws we step on any big toes, they should forgive us," he added.

He warned that the assembly would deal ruthlessly with any AMA official who goes about extorting money from the public, adding that he would be sent to the courts for prosecution.

He said the AMA would come out very soon with a new law that would enable landlords and ladies repaint their buildings at a very minimal cost to them.

He commended the military and other security agencies that joined the exercise for their support and good work done.