AMA Sanitation Court Convicts 10 Fishmongers for Drying Anchovies on Street Median; Arrest Warrants Issued for Seven

In a significant enforcement action underscoring the critical importance of urban sanitation and food safety, the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) Sanitation Court has convicted ten fishmongers for the illegal practice of drying anchovies on a public street median. The court imposed a fine of 50 penalty units (equivalent to GH¢600) on each convicted individual. Furthermore, seven bench warrants have been issued for the arrest of others who failed to appear in court to answer the charges. This ruling stems from operations conducted under the AMA’s ongoing Clean Ghana Campaign, aimed at curbing practices that jeopardize public health and undermine the city’s sanitation standards.

Introduction: Upholding Sanitation Laws in Urban Accra

The heart of Ghana’s capital, Accra, faces relentless pressure from urbanization, informal commerce, and waste management challenges. In response, the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) has intensified its efforts to enforce sanitation bylaws designed to protect public health and maintain a clean urban environment. A pivotal instrument in this effort is the AMA Sanitation Court, a specialized judicial body that handles offenses related to environmental health and local government regulations. The recent conviction of ten fishmongers for drying anchovies on a street median serves as a stark warning that such violations will be prosecuted. This case illustrates the direct intersection of food safety, public health, urban planning, and law enforcement in a developing metropolis. Drying fish—a traditional preservation method—on public infrastructure is not merely an eyesore; it is a documented public health hazard that exposes communities to significant risks. This article provides a comprehensive, SEO-optimized analysis of the case, its background, the health implications, and practical advice for citizens and businesses.

Key Points: Summary of the Court Verdict and Enforcement Action

• Conviction: Ten fishmongers were found guilty of drying anchovies (a type of small fish) on a street median in Accra.
• Penalty: Each was fined 50 penalty units, totaling GH¢600 per person under Ghana’s penalty unit system.
• Compliance: Nine of the ten convicted individuals have paid their fines. One, Sophia Quaye, has not.
• Arrest Warrants: The court issued seven bench warrants for the arrest of individuals who failed to appear in court after being implicated in the operation.
• Operation Details: The offenders were arrested by AMA Environmental Health Officers during an enforcement exercise on February 4, 2026. They were arraigned on February 5 and 10, 2026.
• Health Rationale: The AMA emphasizes that drying fish on streets exposes it to vehicle exhaust, dust, heavy metals, and microbial contamination, creating a high risk for foodborne illnesses.
• Campaign Context: The operation was part of the “Clean Ghana Campaign,” a wider AMA initiative to improve sanitation compliance.

Background: The Legal and Institutional Framework

The AMA Sanitation Court and its Mandate

The Accra Metropolitan Assembly operates a specialized Sanitation Court to adjudicate offenses under the Local Government Act, 1993 (Act 462) and AMA bye-laws. These bylaws prohibit the use of public spaces—including streets, sidewalks, and medians—for commercial activities that compromise sanitation, such as food vending, processing, or drying in undesignated areas. The court’s establishment was a strategic move to ensure swift and specialized prosecution of sanitation-related crimes, which are often handled in regular courts with heavier caseloads. Penalties typically involve fines in penalty units, community service, or, in repeated cases, imprisonment.

The Clean Ghana Campaign and Enforcement Operations

The Clean Ghana Campaign is an AMA-led advocacy and enforcement drive aimed at changing behaviors and ensuring compliance with sanitation standards. It involves routine inspections, public education, and targeted crackdowns on identified hotspots of illegal activity. The operation that led to these convictions was led by the Head of the AMA Environmental Health Department, Florence Kuukyi. Environmental Health Officers (EHOs) are statutory officers with the power to arrest individuals committing offenses in flagrante delicto (in the act) and to initiate prosecution. The campaign reflects a shift towards more proactive and punitive enforcement to deter practices that have long been tolerated but are scientifically proven to be hazardous.

The Practice: Drying Anchovies on Street Medians

Drying small pelagic fish like anchovies (Engraulis encrasicolus) is a common preservation technique in coastal West African communities, often done on clean mats, raised platforms, or dedicated drying grounds. However, in dense urban centers like Accra, space constraints and economic pressures have driven some fishmongers to use public street medians—the central strips dividing traffic lanes. This practice involves spreading freshly caught fish on these concrete or asphalt surfaces to dry under the sun. The medians are exposed to constant vehicular emissions, dust from unpaved areas, debris, and the activities of pedestrians and animals. This method bypasses basic food handling standards and location regulations, placing the product directly in the path of urban pollutants.

Analysis: Public Health Risks and Broader Implications

Scientific Basis of the Health Hazard

The AMA’s stance is firmly grounded in environmental health science. Fish dried on street medians is subject to multiple contamination pathways:

• Chemical Contaminants: Vehicle exhaust contains polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), heavy metals (like lead from historical gasoline use and ongoing industrial emissions), and other particulates. These substances can settle directly onto the drying fish. Heavy metals, in particular, are persistent environmental pollutants that accumulate in the food chain and can cause neurological, renal, and developmental damage with chronic exposure.
• Physical Contaminants: Dust, sand, soil, and debris from the road and wind are inevitable. These can carry microbial pathogens from animal feces, human waste, and general environmental flora.
• Microbial Contamination: The open-air, uncontrolled environment is ideal for the proliferation of bacteria (e.g., Salmonella, E. coli), molds, and yeasts. Fish is a highly perishable commodity with a high moisture content, making it an excellent medium for microbial growth if not handled and dried under hygienic conditions.

Consuming such contaminated fish can lead to foodborne illnesses. The AMA specifically mentions diarrheal diseases, cholera, typhoid fever, and other gastrointestinal infections. These illnesses are already a significant public health burden in Ghana, and contaminated street-vended food is a known contributor. The risk is exacerbated for vulnerable populations like children, the elderly, and immunocompromised individuals.

Urban Governance and the Challenge of Informal Commerce

This case highlights the perennial challenge of governing informal economies in rapidly growing African cities. For many fishmongers, likely from low-income backgrounds, drying fish on medians may be seen as a low-cost, accessible solution to a lack of dedicated, affordable infrastructure. However, this individual economic necessity conflicts directly with collective health and urban order. The AMA’s strict enforcement sends a message that public health and city aesthetics are non-negotiable. The legal implication is clear: operating a food business without a permit and in an unauthorized location violates AMA bye-laws. The prosecution also demonstrates the use of bench warrants—a legal tool to compel the appearance of accused persons—showing the court’s commitment to due process even when defendants evade summons.

Socio-Economic Context and the Path Forward

While the enforcement is legally and health-wise justified, a purely punitive approach may not offer a sustainable solution. The underlying issue includes:

• Lack of Designated Facilities: Are there sufficient, affordable, and accessible designated drying grounds or markets with proper facilities?
• Economic Vulnerability: The fines (GH¢600) may be a significant burden, potentially crippling the livelihoods of small-scale traders if not paired with alternative support.
• Awareness Gap: Were the fishmongers fully aware of the specific health risks their method posed to their customers and themselves?

A truly effective long-term strategy would combine consistent enforcement with proactive urban planning—creating designated, sanitary vending and processing zones—and targeted education for trader associations. The AMA’s statement urging citizens and buyers to desist from using unauthorized spaces is a call for collective responsibility, but it must be matched with viable alternatives.

Practical Advice: For Citizens, Businesses, and Authorities

For Consumers and the General Public

• Be Vigilant: Be aware of where your food, especially dried fish and other street-vended products, is processed and displayed. Avoid purchasing food dried or stored in direct contact with roads, medians, or near heavy traffic.
• Ask Questions: Support vendors who operate from authorized markets or stalls with clean, covered facilities. Inquire about their sourcing and handling practices.
• Report Hazards: If you observe such practices, report them to the AMA Environmental Health Department or through official municipal hotlines. Public health is a shared responsibility.
• Understand the Risk: Recognize that “traditional” or “cheap” does not always mean “safe.” The invisible chemical and microbial contaminants from street drying pose real health risks that may not cause immediate illness but can contribute to long-term health issues.

For Food Vendors and Small-Scale Processors

• Know the Law: Familiarize yourself with AMA bye-laws regarding food vending and processing locations. Operating without a permit and in unauthorized areas is illegal and punishable.
• Seek Legal Spaces: Proactively seek out and utilize designated market spaces, abattoirs, or fish processing areas provided or approved by the Assembly. Inquire about collective options through trader unions.
• Adopt Safe Methods: If drying fish is your business, invest in basic hygienic drying methods: use clean, raised platforms (e.g., racks with mesh), cover the product from dust and insects, and ensure the drying area is away from direct pollution sources.
• Comply to Avoid Penalties: The financial penalty of GH¢600 is substantial. Repeated offenses could lead to higher fines, seizure of goods, or even imprisonment. Compliance is ultimately more economically sustainable.

For Local Government Authorities (AMA and Similar Bodies)

• Enforce Consistently: Continue operations like the one described, but ensure they are regular, predictable, and not just sporadic crackdowns. Consistency deters violation.
• Couple Enforcement with Infrastructure: Invest in and designate specific, sanitary zones for food processing and drying in major markets. Consider public-private partnerships or cooperative ownership models for these facilities to ensure affordability.
• Intensify Education: Launch targeted public education campaigns for trader associations, explaining the specific scientific health risks (chemicals, heavy metals, pathogens) in simple, local languages. Use demonstrations or visual aids showing contamination.
• Streamline Permitting: Review the process for obtaining permits for food-related businesses. Reduce bureaucratic hurdles and ensure fees are structured to be inclusive but also fund the maintenance of sanitation infrastructure.
• Inter-Agency Collaboration: Work with the Ghana Health Service (GHS), Food and Drugs Authority (FDA), and the Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development to develop integrated guidelines for urban fish processing and vending.

FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions About the Case

1. What exactly were the fishmongers convicted for?

They were convicted for violating AMA bye-laws that prohibit the use of public street medians and other unauthorized public spaces for commercial food processing activities. Specifically, they were drying anchovies on a street median, an act deemed a sanitation offense.

2. What is a “penalty unit” and how much is GH¢600?

In Ghana, a “penalty unit” is a standard monetary value used to calculate fines for various offenses under different Acts and regulations. Its value is periodically reviewed and set by the Minister of Finance. As of the time of this offense, 50 penalty units equated to a fine of GH¢600. The exact value per penalty unit can change, but it provides a scalable fine structure.

3. Why is drying fish on a street median so dangerous?

It is dangerous because the fish is exposed to:

• Air Pollutants: Vehicle exhaust fumes containing toxic chemicals and heavy metals (like lead, PAHs) settle directly onto the fish.
• Dust and Debris: Road dust, soil, sand, and litter carry bacteria, parasites, and other pathogens.
• Microbial Growth: The open, uncontrolled environment with variable weather promotes the growth of bacteria, molds, and yeasts that cause food poisoning.

Consuming such fish can lead to serious foodborne diseases like cholera, typhoid, and diarrhea.

4. What happens to the seven people with arrest warrants?

Bench warrants have been issued for their arrest. Once apprehended by police, they will be brought before the AMA Sanitation Court to answer the charges. They will likely be arraigned, enter a plea, and the court will determine their case, which could result in similar fines or other penalties.

5. Is this a new law or just stricter enforcement?

The AMA bye-laws prohibiting such activities have existed for years. This case represents a stricter and more active enforcement of existing laws under the Clean Ghana Campaign. It signals a shift from tolerance or occasional warnings to prosecution, setting a legal precedent.

6. Can the convicted fishmongers appeal the verdict?

Yes. Like any court judgment, the convicted individuals have the right to appeal the decision to a higher court (the High Court) within a specified statutory period, typically on grounds of error in law or procedure.

Conclusion: A Precedent for Public Health and Urban Order

The conviction of ten fishmongers by the AMA Sanitation Court is more than a local news item; it is a definitive statement on the non-negot