KMA Launches First Citywide Clean-Up Exercise of the Year to Promote Sanitation and Public Health

The Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) has successfully launched its first citywide clean-up exercise for 2026, reaffirming its commitment to maintaining a clean, healthy, and safe environment for all residents of the metropolis.

The exercise, which spanned major markets, streets, and public spaces, saw the active involvement of environmental health officers, waste management teams, voluntary groups, and members of the public. This initiative marks the beginning of sustained sanitation efforts by the Assembly and forms part of KMA’s broader strategy to promote environmental cleanliness, safeguard public health, and foster civic responsibility throughout the year.

Speaking to the media after the exercise, KMA Coordinating Director, Mr. Francis Dwira-Darko, emphasized the importance of collective responsibility in keeping Kumasi clean. He urged traders and residents alike to support the Assembly’s sanitation initiatives, stressing that maintaining a tidy city is crucial to preventing disease outbreaks and improving the overall wellbeing of the population.

Mr. Dwira-Darko expressed concern over the low participation of some traders, noting that while several market women closed their shops in compliance with the exercise, many failed to take part in the actual clean-up. He described this as regrettable and called for a change in attitude towards communal sanitation efforts.

The Coordinating Director further revealed that the Assembly would review and strengthen its sanitation by-laws to include penalties for those who neglect their civic duties during mandatory clean-up exercises. He explained that stricter enforcement would help instill discipline and ensure sustained cleanliness across the metropolis.

He concluded by appealing to residents to show greater commitment during future citywide clean-up exercises, emphasizing that the success of Kumasi’s sanitation drive depends on the active participation of all stakeholders.

The KMA has assured the public that sanitation remains a top priority and pledged to intensify education, monitoring, and enforcement efforts to keep Kumasi clean, healthy, and safe for all.