As part of efforts at controlling the Covid-19 outbreak in the country, the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development has carried out a major disinfection exercise in all Markets, Lorry parks and public places in the Greater Accra region as the country steps up efforts at containing the spread of coronavirus.
On Sunday, major markets within the Greater Accra enclave were shut down for the disinfection exercise being coordinated by the Local government ministry which forms part of the second-phase of the nationwide disinfection and fumigation of market places, lorry parks and public places which was launched at the independence square in Accra on Sunday.
Speaking at the launch, Greater Accra Regional minister, Ishmeal Ashietey called on Metropolitan, Municipal and District chiefs(MMDCEs) in the Greater Region to take ‘personal interest’ in the ongoing second phase of the National disinfection and fumigation of markets, lorry parks and other public places in the region.
The 10-day exercise will cover all markets, lorry parks and other public places across the country. It will be undertaken by waste management experts Zoomlion Ghana Limited with support from other agencies.
Mr. Ashietey has also charged the MMDCEs to bring together all the environmental health officers in the various assemblies to sensitize the public and also monitor the effective implementation of the intervention by the government.
He asked all the MMDCEs to ensure that all market environs within their jurisdiction are rid of filth, adding that keeping the markets clean would check against the outbreak of any sanitation-related diseases as well as protecting the traders.
The regional minister disclosed that all MMDAs in the region will now be required to submit a detailed report in respect of the exercise ‘’using a reporting template’’ which has been made available to them. ‘’ The Regional Coordinating council will coordinate and monitor the entire programme to ensure that it is successful’’, he added.
Mr.Ashitey stressed the need for the Greater Accra Region to prioritize the disinfection and fumigation exercise as the region has become the epicenter of the COCID-19 outbreak in Ghana.
For his part, the Greater Accra Regional manager of Zoomlion, Ernest Morgan Acquah, revealed that his outfit would disinfect over 130 markets in the region together with lorry parks, public toilets and other public places. He assured that the second phase of the exercise will be much successful and will see much improvement from the first phase.
Markets that are scheduled to benefit from the exercise include, the Madina main market, the Dome market, the Taifa market, the Makola No.2 market, the Kaneshie Market, Agbogboloshie vegetable market, among several others.
