The Sanitation and Motor Court at the Ablekuma Central Sub-Metro has jailed Edward Bruce nine months in hard labour for defecating on a school compound at Mataheko in Accra.
The court, presided over by Mr Antwi Barimah, found Bruce attitude to be very serious hence the need for the sentence to serve as deterrent to others in curbing the rampant practice in many parts of the city.
Prosecuting, Ms Linda Kumbonu of the Department of Public Health of the Accra Metropolitan Assembly told the court that health officers from Ablekuma Central Sub-Metro led by Mr Michael Abredu went on routine inspection.
Ms Kumbonu said when they visited the Restoration Academy School at Mataheko they found indiscriminate dumping of refuse and human excreta on the school compound.
The health officers served the authorities of the school notice to abate the environmental nuisance otherwise they would be taken to court, but they (authorities) denied having committed the offence and attributed it to the nearby homes.
The prosecutor said the school authorities put up stringent measures to arrest those behind the practice leading to the apprehension of Bruce whilst in the act of defecating.
Ms Josephine Gawu, Ablekuma Central District Environmental Health Officer, in an interview with Ghana News Agency said she suspects that squatters who are living in kiosks and containers to be the worst offenders of indiscriminate defecating and dumping of refuse in the area.
She gave the assurance that her outfit would be rigorous to deal with the offenders and advised the community members to be vigilant and arrest those who flout the law.
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