Report by Daniel Donkor
The Sunyani Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), Vincent Antwi Agyei, has announced a decisive move to strictly enforce sanitation by-laws, as the municipality intensifies efforts to restore Sunyani’s lost reputation as Ghana’s cleanest city and improve public health outcomes.
The announcement was made after a massive clean-up exercise organised in Sunyani to mark National Sanitation Day, an initiative that brought together residents, traders, youth groups, government officials, and security agencies across the municipality.
Speaking to the media after the exercise, Mr. Antwi Agyei admitted that weak enforcement and declining public discipline over the years had contributed significantly to the city’s sanitation challenges.
“Both the Assembly and residents of Sunyani have relaxed on sanitation by-laws over the years, and the effects are clear,” he said. “Anyone found flouting these by-laws will be dealt with strictly in accordance with the law.”
From National Pride to Sanitation Decline
More than a decade ago, Sunyani earned national acclaim when it was adjudged the cleanest city in Ghana by the then Ghana Tourism Commission. That honour, however, has gradually faded due to a combination of poor waste management practices, rapid population growth, and changing attitudes toward environmental cleanliness.
Indiscriminate littering, choked gutters, and the absence of adequate waste disposal infrastructure have all been cited as major factors behind the city’s loss of its sanitation status.
Addressing concerns over the lack of waste bins in the municipality, the MCE disclosed that the Sunyani Municipal Assembly is in the process of procuring 20 standard metallic waste bins to pilot a structured waste management system.
“This is a critical first step. The Assembly will not relent in its efforts to keep Sunyani clean,” Mr. Antwi Agyei assured.
He further pledged that the strict enforcement of sanitation by-laws will commence from January 2026, warning residents and businesses to comply fully with sanitation regulations.
The clean-up exercise also received strong backing from the central government. The Minister for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, Ahmed Ibrahim, outlined the government’s broader plan to improve sanitation across the country through collaboration and shared responsibility.
He stressed the importance of collective action involving traditional leaders, government officials, security agencies, the youth, and stakeholders in the sanitation sector.
“Cleanliness starts from the household,” the Minister noted. “Every Ghanaian must take responsibility for their immediate environment if we are to achieve a sustainable national sanitation drive.”
The clean-up exercise, which lasted about seven hours, recorded enthusiastic participation across the Sunyani Business District. The usually bustling commercial area was brought to a standstill between 6:00 a.m. and 12:00 p.m., as shops and business entities were ordered to close to ensure full compliance.
Traders, youth, and officials worked together to desilt choked gutters, sweep streets, and collect plastic waste, temporarily halting commercial activity in the city centre.
The exercise was joined by high-profile personalities, including Bono Regional Minister Joseph Addai Akwaboa, Member of Parliament for Sunyani East Saed Mubarak, Sunyani MCE Vincent Antwi Agyei, popular musician Stonebwoy, and personnel from the security agencies within the municipality.
As Sunyani renews its sanitation campaign, authorities say sustained enforcement, improved infrastructure, and a renewed sense of civic responsibility will be key to reclaiming the city’s environmental pride.
