Two young men have been arrested in Accra for allegedly posing as members of the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) Task Force and attempting to extort money from a woman during the National Sanitation Day exercise.
The suspects, identified as Enoch Aseda and Johnson Odai Gyebi, were allegedly using the names of the AMA and other security agencies to present themselves as authorised enforcement officers during the exercise on Saturday, September 5, 2026.
The two reportedly approached a young woman who was selling items and attempted to seize some of her belongings, claiming they were carrying out official sanitation enforcement.
The woman said one of the suspects approached her while she was attending to items kept in a plastic bag and demanded that she hand them over.
She later heard the suspect making phone calls and saying the items they had seized were becoming numerous and that others should come and collect them, creating the impression that he was part of an official enforcement team.
The activities of the two reportedly raised suspicion among security personnel, who intervened and arrested them.
The suspects were subsequently handed over to the police to assist with investigations into the alleged impersonation and attempted extortion.
The incident has prompted a warning from Accra Mayor Michael Kpakpo Allotey, who condemned the alleged conduct and cautioned against individuals using the name of the AMA, National Security or other state institutions to extort money from members of the public.
He said such acts could damage the reputation of the Assembly by creating the impression that genuine AMA officers were involved in extortion.
The Mayor said it was particularly concerning that the alleged incident occurred during the National Sanitation Day exercise, which was intended to mobilise residents and businesses to improve sanitation.
He assured the victim and the public that the matter would be pursued through the appropriate legal processes and that anyone found culpable would face the law.
Mr Allotey also urged members of the public not to make unofficial payments to individuals claiming to be enforcing AMA regulations, stressing that sanitation enforcement must be carried out by duly authorised personnel and in accordance with established procedures.
