KMA targets food vendors in Adum sanitation sweep

Kumasi’s central business district witnessed a renewed push for cleanliness this week as the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) arrested food vendors operating under unhygienic conditions in Adum.

The enforcement, part of the revived Samansaman exercise, zeroed in on the Railways enclave, a bustling zone where commuters and traders often rely on street meals. Environmental health officers found vendors cooking beside choked gutters and stagnant drains, with uncovered food exposed to flies.

Several vendors were taken into custody, while others fled, abandoning food and utensils. In some cases, workers present at vending points were arrested when business owners were absent.

Resistance flared during the operation, with some vendors arguing that sanitation enforcement should be the Assembly’s responsibility since they pay levies. But taskforce leader Adam Salifu Abass dismissed that claim, stressing that public health is a shared duty. “This is not a one‑time activity. We are restoring discipline and protecting Kumasi’s image as a commercial centre,” he told reporters.

The crackdown reflects the Assembly’s broader campaign against poor hygiene, illegal trading and waste mismanagement across the metropolis. Officials say the exercise will continue, combining enforcement with stakeholder engagement to ensure compliance.

For residents and traders in Adum, the arrests are a reminder that Kumasi’s sanitation drive is no longer about persuasion, it is about enforcement, with the city determined to reclaim its reputation for order and cleanliness.

Source: myjoyonline.com