The Tamale District Magistrate Court One, presided over by His Lordship Stephen Tabire, has fined several individuals and a food business operator for engaging in activities that breach Ghana’s Public Health Act, 2012 (Act 851), and local waste management by-laws.
A pig farmer, Mr Joseph Abdulai, was fined GH₵780 after pleading guilty to three counts of operating a harmful or noxious trade in a manner that endangered public health, contrary to Section 54(a)(i) of the Public Health Act, 2012 (Act 851).
According to the prosecutor, Mr Nurideen Nuorfaa Suoseg of the Tamale Metropolitan Assembly, Joseph Abdulai kept pigs on his premises at Changli, causing the accumulation of filth, refuse, carrion, and other unwholesome matter in an unauthorized area. This improper disposal posed a significant health risk to residents.
The court ordered him to relocate the pigs from their current location immediately. The court also fined Shallot Eatery at Kukou an amount equivalent to 100 penalty units (GH₵1,200) for unlawfully chiseling and opening a section of a public concrete drain in front of their premises.
Prosecutors explained that the eatery created the opening to discharge greywater, including wastewater from washing utensils, cleaning food items, and other kitchen activities.
This wastewater, containing grease, oils, detergents, and food residues, accumulated in the public drain, causing offensive odors, Fly infestation, Mosquito breeding conditions, General public health risks.
These actions violated section 56(a) and (b) of the Public Health Act, 2012 (Act 851) Regulation 7.10(e) of the Tamale Metropolitan Assembly Solid and Liquid Waste Management By-laws, 2018, which prohibit disposing of liquid waste into undesignated drains.
An abatement notice issued earlier by environmental health officers was ignored, prompting prosecution.
Court Rejects Verbal Authorization Claim
Before sentencing, the manager of Shallot Eatery claimed they received authorization from the assembly to open the drain but could not provide any supporting documents or name of the officer involved.
The judge rejected the verbal claim, noting that only the Environmental Health Unit can issue such approvals.
The judge directed the Assembly to engage trained artisans to ensure the eatery installs a proper drainage system for liquid waste disposal.
The case was adjourned to December 4, 2025, and January 15, 2026, for follow-up compliance review and final judgement.
