Kumasi court fines cosmetic shop for illegal dumping of waste

On Tuesday, October 29, a Magistrate Court in Kumasi fined Messiah Cosmetics GHC1,200 for improper waste disposal practices in the Adum area. 

The ruling followed widespread public criticism after a viral video showing improper waste management.

The footage, recorded on October 18, 2024, captured a female employee of the store disposing of waste into a drain during rainfall. Jerry White Junior, manager of Messiah Cosmetics, admitted to the public nuisance charges as per Section 56 of the Public Health Act 2012 (Act 851). The court gave him the option to pay the fine or serve a three-month prison term with hard labor.

Enoch Nkansah, Chief Environmental Officer of the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA), commended the court's decision, viewing it as an affirmation of KMA’s dedication to upholding sanitation and addressing health risks in the city.

.KMA’s Chief Executive, Samuel Pyne, noted that sanitation management consumes nearly 70% of the Assembly’s revenue, significantly straining resources.

In 2023, the Assembly launched the “Keep Kumasi Clean; Let’s Recycle” initiative, as part of the EU-supported Holistic Reinforcement for Sustainable Development (HORESD) project, to restore Kumasi’s title as “The Garden City.” The project involves partnerships with Cape Verde and Manra in Spain, as well as the city of Valencia.

“We have introduced eight new trucks and one thousand containers for waste management, along with a system to facilitate the purchase of recyclable materials from waste collectors. Plans include establishing four composting sites and two small recycling plants within the city,” said Kumasi Mayor Samuel Pyne at the launch.

He believes this project will generate employment and increase revenue for the Assembly.