The Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) has issued a strong warning to traders and shop owners within the metropolis, stating that all shops and trading centers in designated areas will remain closed until 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, November 1, 2025, if they fail to actively participate in the upcoming citywide clean-up exercise.
In a statement signed by the Public Relations Officer of the Assembly, Madam Henrietta A.K. Aboagye, the KMA explained that the exercise forms part of the Government of Ghana’s new national sanitation initiative which mandates all Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies to conduct monthly clean-up activities aimed at promoting environmental cleanliness and improving public health across the country.
The clean-up exercise, which will begin at 6:00 a.m., will target major sections of the Central Business District and adjoining areas that experience heavy commercial and vehicular activity on a daily basis. The Assembly has directed that all forms of trading and vehicular movement within the designated operational zones be suspended during the period of the exercise to allow smooth coordination and active public participation.
According to Madam Aboagye, the Assembly’s decision to impose closure sanctions on non-participating traders is not punitive but intended to encourage full cooperation among residents, traders, and transport operators in keeping the city clean. She emphasized that maintaining a healthy and sanitary environment is a shared responsibility that requires the effort of all citizens, not only the Assembly.
She further stated that if traders and shop owners actively participate in the clean-up exercise, normal trading activities will resume at 11:00 a.m. However, those who fail to join the exercise will have their shops and business centers remain closed until 2:00 p.m., as part of the Assembly’s enforcement strategy to ensure accountability and full involvement in the sanitation drive.
Madam Aboagye underscored the importance of the exercise, noting that it is aligned with the government’s broader environmental policy to reduce sanitation-related diseases such as cholera and malaria that are often caused by poor waste management and unclean surroundings. She said a clean environment enhances the overall well-being of residents and strengthens Kumasi’s reputation as a major commercial hub in Ghana.
She reiterated that the KMA, in collaboration with relevant stakeholders including market associations, transport unions, Zoomlion Ghana Limited, and community volunteers, will supervise the exercise across all operational zones. The Assembly’s Environmental Health and Sanitation Department will also monitor compliance and ensure that all participants adhere to the directives governing the exercise.
The Assembly cautioned that any individual or trader who attempts to open their shop or operate within the stipulated hours without participating in the clean-up will face sanctions under existing KMA sanitation by-laws. It encouraged all residents and business operators to equip themselves with the necessary cleaning tools and join efforts to rid the city of filth.
The statement reaffirmed the KMA’s commitment to restoring Kumasi’s long-standing image as the “Garden City of West Africa” through consistent community-driven sanitation campaigns and strict enforcement of environmental regulations. The Assembly urged residents to view the November 1 exercise as a civic duty and a shared responsibility towards building a cleaner, healthier, and more beautiful city for all.
