The Mayor of Accra, Mohammed Adjei Sowah has warned scrap dealers to desist from stealing metal gratings used to cover drains in the city or risk being prosecuted.

According to him, the sharp rise in the theft of these drain covers, by scrap dealers was worrying posing a great danger to vehicles and pedestrians.

The Mayor gave the warning on Monday, 4 February 2019, when he met the leadership of scrap dealers operating along the Graphic and Mortuary roads in Accra to discuss plans to relocate them to a new site.

“Your boys go to town to collect scraps and when they don’t get any, they decide to remove the metal covers on the drains. If you go around Kaneshie, Bubuashie and Abeka areas and other parts of the city, all the metals covering the gutters have been stolen. This creates a lot of problems, “he lamented.

He vowed to crack down on the problem and appealed to the leadership of the scrap dealers to caution their subordinates to desist from such acts.

He also challenged them to arrest anyone who tries to sell such metal gratings to them for a reward.

Mayor Sowah also indicated that the new site for the scrap dealers would be a conducive place to transact business without interference, adding that the decision forms part of efforts to ensure a Clean Accra as well as protect life and property.

He urged the scrap dealers to work in unity as they move to their new site to ensure peace and harmony.

The scrap dealers expressed their appreciation to the Mayor for his efforts to relocate them and assured him of their cooperation.