Roadside anchovy drying lands 10 fishmongers in court; each fined GH¢600

The AMA Sanitation Court has convicted 10 fishmongers for drying anchovies on a road median in Accra and fined each of them 50 penalty units (GH¢600).

Those convicted are Charlotte Amoo, Mercy Tetteh, Regina Tettey, Mary Attah, Patience Vosa, Cecilia Clottey, Comfort Amarteifio, Naomi Quaye, Sophia Quaye, and Abigail Ashie.

According to AMA Public Affairs head Gilbert Nii Ankrah, the women were arrested by Environmental Health Officers during a Clean Ghana Campaign enforcement operation led by Florence Kuukyi, head of the Environmental Health Department. They were taken to court on February 10.

Nine of the convicted persons paid their fines. Sophia Quaye did not.

The AMA says the crackdown started earlier. On February 4, Regina and Mary were picked up and appeared in court on February 5, where they pleaded guilty and said others were also involved. The court asked them to help identify more offenders, and 15 additional names came up. Eight of those people showed up in court.

The court has also issued seven bench warrants for others linked to the offence who failed to appear.

Mr Ankrah said drying fish on road medians exposes food to vehicle exhaust fumes, dust, and heavy metals, which can contaminate the fish and raise the risk of illnesses like diarrhoea, cholera, and typhoid.

He said the AMA will keep enforcing sanitation rules and urged traders to stop using medians and other unauthorised public spaces for business.