The ongoing exercise, focused on the Asem and Ohwim electoral areas and the airport environs, was prompted by a dangerous accumulation of waste at unauthorized sites. Assembly officials cite increased human activity and indiscriminate dumping as primary causes for the sanitation crisis.

A key driver of the operation is mitigating a serious aviation safety risk. The improper disposal of waste around the airport had attracted large populations of birds, particularly crows, raising alarms about potential bird strikes on aircraft.

“This ongoing evacuation is a dual-purpose intervention,” a KMA spokesperson stated. “Our primary goals are to restore sanitation and public health in these communities while urgently reducing bird activity and the associated risks to flight safety.”

Following the clearance of the former dump site at Asem, the Assembly has provided new, designated refuse containers for residents and is urging the community to use them exclusively. A similar provision of new containers for the people of Ohwim is underway to establish sustainable waste management practices post-cleanup.

The KMA is using the exercise to reinforce a core message to all residents: proper waste disposal is non-negotiable.

“We are making this investment in our city’s health and safety, but we need every resident to be a partner in this effort,” the Assembly’s statement read. “We call on all residents to dump refuse only at designated points. Cleanliness is a shared responsibility; let us all work together to keep Kumasi clean and safe.”

The operation underscores the Metropolitan Assembly’s continued efforts to tackle perennial sanitation challenges and ensure a healthier, safer environment for Ghana’s second-largest city.