The Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) Sanitation Court has jailed Michael Osei, a repeat sanitation offender, for six months after he failed to pay a GH¢1,200 fine for dumping refuse at an unauthorised place at the Accra Post Office.

The conviction followed an early morning sanitation enforcement exercise conducted by Environmental Health Officers from the Assembly between 3:00 a.m. and 4:00 a.m. in parts of the Accra Metropolis.

Head of Public Affairs at the AMA, Mr Gilbert Nii Ankrah, disclosed this on Wednesday after the Assembly arrested a 32-year-old Nigerian, Yusif Dahiru, for allegedly engaging in unauthorised waste dumping and extorting money from members of the public at an illegal dumping site near UTC in Accra.

Mr Ankrah explained that facts presented before the court showed that Michael Osei was first arrested on September 15, 2025, for dumping refuse at an unauthorised place, contrary to Section 56(a) of the Public Health Act, 2012 (Act 851).

He said in that first case, Osei was found guilty and sentenced on October 30, 2025, to a fine of GH¢600 or, in default, three months’ imprisonment, but did not serve the prison term because some persons paid the fine on his behalf.

According to Mr Ankrah, Osei was arrested again on April 14, 2026, at the same Accra Post Office location for committing the same offence.

He said when Osei was put before the court, he admitted guilt, and the court confirmed that he was already known because of his earlier conviction for the same offence.

Mr Ankrah stated that the court, having found him to be a repeat offender who had committed the same offence at the same location, imposed a stiffer punishment of GH¢1,200 or, in default, six months imprisonment.

He added that because Osei has not been able to pay the fine, he has been sent to the Nsawam Prison to begin serving the six-month sentence.

Mr Ankrah said the case demonstrated the Assembly’s resolve to deal firmly with repeat offenders and to enforce sanitation laws to protect public health and maintain cleanliness in the capital.