Three men have been arrested by the police for assaulting a Public Health Officer of the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) and obstructing the Mayor of Accra, Hon. Michael Kpakpo Allotey, and his team from carrying out their lawful duties during the second edition of the National Sanitation Day exercise at Agbogbloshie.
The suspects, identified as Akwei Sarbah, 40, and Nii Armah, 35, both residents of Gbese in Ga Mashie, and Emmanuel Aboagye, 42, from Dansoman, prevented the Mayor and officers of the Metro Public Health Department (MPHD) from locking up a shop purportedly owned by a queen mother opened in violation of the sanitation directive.
In the course of the obstruction, the suspects allegedly assaulted Mr Ishmael Tagoe, an officer of the MPHD, and later exhibited offensive conduct towards the Mayor, disrupting the smooth progress of the exercise.
The three were subsequently arrested and taken to the Jamestown Police Station, where written statements were taken from the Director of the MPHD, to assist in investigations.
Speaking to the media after the incident, Head of Public Affairs, Mr. Gilbert Nii Ankrah, condemned the act, describing it as a serious affront to lawful authority and a violation of the Assembly’s Sanitation and Public Health Bye-Laws.
He noted that all three would be arraigned before the AMA District Court for obstructing AMA officers and failing to participate in the National Sanitation Day cleanup exercise, while the police handle the assault case.
“It is unacceptable for anyone to assault our officers or obstruct the Mayor while performing their lawful duties. The law must take its course to deter others who might engage in similar acts of indiscipline,” he stated.
"The incident occurred around 8:17 a.m. when an officer of the MPHD and his team were ensuring compliance with the directive for all shops to close and participate in the cleanup exercise. Upon reaching the said shop, the attendants were politely asked to close and join the exercise, but they blatantly refused and called in three men who came to aggressively assist in the unlawful act" he said.
Mr. Ankrah reaffirmed the AMA’s commitment to enforcing its bye-laws and ensuring full compliance with sanitation regulations across the metropolis, especially during clean-up exercises aimed at improving environmental hygiene and public safety.