A Hohoe Magistrate Court has sentenced Ekpane Seyram, a barber, to a fine of GHS 600 or two months in prison for dumping rubbish into a public drain in Accra. The incident occurred on Monday, July 27, at around 2000 hours, near the Konuvie Plaza area.
Barber Caught on Video Dumping Rubbish
Ekpane Seyram, a barber, was caught on video dumping rubbish into a public drain in Accra. The video was shared on Facebook, and it caught the attention of the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) and the Environmental Health Office.
Mr Daniel Dotse Eklo, Environmental Health Analyst, Prosecuting, told the court that Ekpane Seyram collected the rubbish from a drinking bar where he was staying, belonging to Madam Cecilia Attamah and Vincentia Attamah, and dumped it in the public drain. The Assembly had placed skip containers at vantage points in the municipality for the collection and proper disposal of refuse.
Investigation and Charges
The Environmental Health Unit, in collaboration with the MCE, investigated the incident and got Ekpane Seyram on Wednesday at around 1030 hours. He accepted liability for the offence upon interrogation. Ekpane Seyram told the investigators that he collected the rubbish in and around the drinking bar and dumped it in the public drain.
Conviction and Sentence
Ekpane Seyram pleaded guilty to the charge and was sentenced on his own plea to a fine of GHS 600 or two months in prison in default. Mr Eklo described Ekpane Seyram's action as "barbaric and inimical to the environment which could lead to flooding and outbreak of diseases."
The court's decision to fine Ekpane Seyram GHS 600 or imprison him for two months serves as a reminder of the importance of proper waste disposal in Accra. The Environmental Health Office and the MCE have taken steps to educate the public on the need to dispose of waste properly, but incidents like this one highlight the need for continued vigilance and enforcement.
Source: Joy Online
