‘Agbogbloshie and Kokomba traders must keep environment clean’

By Samuel
Dodoo, GNA

Accra, Oct. 19, GNA – Madam Cecilia Abena
Dapaah, the Minister of Sanitation and Water Resources, has called on traders
at Agbogbloshie and Kokomba Markets to keep their environment clean to avoid
selling contaminated food items to buyers.

She said it was about time the traders rose to
their responsibilities by ensuring that they desisted from throwing waste into
drains and keep their surroundings clean to prevent the outbreak of
environmental related diseases such as cholera and typhoid.

Madam Dapaah made the call when she was taken
round by the Accra Metropolitan Chief Executive, Mr Mohammed Adjei Sowah, to
inspect the Agbogbloshie and Kokomba markets in Accra during a special clean-up
exercise.

The Minister asked the traders to stop
displaying food items on the bare floor while urging cooked food vendors to
move away from drains to prevent contamination of the food by flies.

“As market women there is the need to pay
attention to food preparation, handling, storage and display to keep us
healthy.”

Madam Dapaah urged the assemblies to intensify
their efforts at ensuring hygienic conditions in the markets, saying; “It is
too common in our markets and communities to observe bad environmental
practices, which affect our health.”

Mr Sowah said the attitude of residents of
Accra towards clean-up exercises must change adding that the issue of
environmental cleanliness was not the responsibility of the Government alone.

“We all must prepare to help achieve the
desired effects,” he said.

“When you see your neighbour dumping waste
into the drains you must challenge him or her. I appeal to the communities to
be proactive to unhealthy practices such as open defecating and dumping of
refuse.”

The AMA Chief Executive urged the traders to
inform the Assembly whenever they have concerns with sanitation.

The traders at the Agbogbloshie Market pleaded
for refuse containers to help prevent the indiscriminate dumping of waste in
the area.

GNA

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