A large haul of plastic waste, including takeaway packs, sachets of iced water, used clothing, and worn-out shoes, was extracted from the gutters and drains at the Madina Zongo Junction in Accra on Valentine’s Day (February 14) during a cleanup operation.
The exercise was a collaborative effort between Onua FM, a member of Media General, Zoomlion Ghana Limited, the La Nkwantanang-Madina Municipal Assembly (LaNMMA), and other volunteers.
The operation began at 5:45 a.m., starting from the Madina Zongo Junction traffic light—marking the entrance to the Madina Market—and extending to the Madina Post Office.
Waste management giant Zoomlion provided a wide range of logistics, including personnel, compaction trucks, shovels, nose masks, rakes, gloves, Wellington boots, pickers, and wheelbarrows.
A significant number of shop owners, traders, and hawkers joined Zoomlion and Onua FM to ensure that the Madina market and its surroundings were thoroughly cleaned.
Participants desilted gutters that were heavily choked with plastics and tidied the street shoulders from the Zongo Junction traffic light to the post office.
Compaction trucks were on-site to collect the plastic and other waste pulled out from the gutters and drains. Meanwhile, traders and consumers at the market covered their noses with handkerchiefs due to the overpowering stench of the waste.
Speaking to the media on the sidelines of the exercise, James Deku, Communications Officer for Zoomlion Ghana Limited, stated that the area had been given special attention due to the growing number of traders and the substantial daily waste generated.
He revealed that Zoomlion has implemented a waste rotational system at the Madina market to ensure cleanliness both day and night. The night cleaning, he said, starts at 10:00 p.m., when the market area is cleared of traders, while the daytime cleaning begins at 5:00 a.m.
He attributed the blockage of gutters to the poor waste disposal habits of traders in the market.
Mr. Deku urged the traders to acquire waste bins from Zoomlion to facilitate proper waste disposal, making collection easier.
He explained that Onua FM had requested Zoomlion’s partnership for the Valentine’s Day cleanup at the Madina market, highlighting the company’s long-standing commitment to collaborating with stakeholders for environmental cleanliness.
Reaffirming Zoomlion’s continued efforts to ensure environmental cleanliness across the country, he called on district and municipal assemblies to enforce sanitation by-laws and hold offenders accountable.
He stressed that sanitation is a collective responsibility and urged every Ghanaian to participate in maintaining a clean environment.
Nana Yaa Brefo Danso, host of Onua 95.1 FM’s Yɛn Nsɛmpa show, who participated in the cleanup with her team, explained that the event was organised in collaboration with Zoomlion and other stakeholders as part of activities marking the one-year anniversary of her show.
She emphasised the importance of fostering a positive attitude towards the environment to ensure better health.
Nana Yaa Brefo Danso proposed that Parliament grant Zoomlion greater authority to prosecute sanitation offenders, which would serve as a deterrent to others.
This move, she suggested, would strengthen enforcement and promote a cleaner environment.
“By granting Zoomlion more authority, the goal is to hold individuals and entities accountable for sanitation violations, ultimately maintaining a healthier community,” she said.
She commended Zoomlion, the traders, and the volunteers who took part in the exercise and assured that the initiative would be replicated at other market centres and areas.
