AMA sanitation court lands first conviction in public health crackdown

Accra’s new District Sanitation Court has made its mark just days after being commissioned, handing down its first conviction as part of a sweeping effort to clean up the city.

Juliet Mettle, a local food vendor, found herself in the dock during the court’s inaugural sitting on Tuesday. 

She admitted to two public health offences: operating a food business without medically screening her workers and preparing meals in an unhygienic open-air setting.

The court fined her a total of 60 penalty units—valued at GH¢360. Both fines are to run concurrently. Should she fail to pay, she faces a three-month prison sentence with hard labour.

The Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) established the court to accelerate the handling of sanitation-related cases and reinforce its commitment to a healthier urban environment.

Officials say this is just the beginning. With enforcement operations expected to ramp up, the AMA is urging residents and businesses alike to comply with sanitation laws—or face the consequences