Michael Kpakpo Allotey deploys 20 tricycles to improve Accra sanitation

Mayor of Accra, Michael Kpakpo Allotey, has officially deployed 20 new tricycles to the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) to bolster waste collection and desilting operations throughout the capital. The initiative is a direct response to requests from assembly members and is designed to tackle accumulated refuse and clogged drainage systems. Minister for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, Mahama Ayariga, joined the Mayor at the launch, noting that the procurement aligns with the environmental vision of President John Mahama’s administration to modernize urban sanitation management.

Minister Ayariga emphasized that while the provision of equipment is vital, the success of the initiative hinges on community responsibility. He urged residents to dispose of waste properly within their properties rather than dumping refuse on the streets for collection. Ayariga also encouraged other local assemblies across the country to follow the AMA’s lead by investing their internally generated funds into sanitation tools and infrastructure, arguing that local resource mobilization is the most sustainable path to overcoming the nation's sanitation challenges.

Complementing the equipment rollout, Mayor Kpakpo Allotey has called for a major reorganization of city commerce to facilitate easier cleaning. He urged traders operating in unauthorized street locations to relocate to designated markets such as Kaneshie, Makola, and Agbogbloshie, where many stalls remain unoccupied. To support this transition, the AMA has offered free publicity to traders who comply with the relocation order, emphasizing that clearing the streets of illegal vending is essential for maintaining the city's aesthetic and hygiene standards.

This latest push for cleanliness comes as the government reports significant progress at the Integrated Recycling and Compost Plant (IRECOP) in Accra. Minister Ayariga recently highlighted successful waste clearance efforts at the site, which the government intends to eventually develop into an industrial park. Mayor Allotey reaffirmed his commitment to transforming Accra into the cleanest city in Africa during his tenure, pledging that the enforcement of sanitation regulations will be conducted fairly and with the ultimate goal of improving the capital’s international image and public health.