Nine Nigerian traders have been arrested in Cape Coast for allegedly violating the government’s directive requiring non-essential businesses to remain closed during the National Two-Day Flood Aftermath Clean-up Exercise.

The traders were arrested on Friday after opening their shops at the Kotokuraba Market despite the temporary closure order. Authorities also confiscated goods belonging to the affected traders.

The businesses affected included mobile phone shops and phone repair outlets.

Officials overseeing the exercise criticised the traders’ actions, describing them as a disregard for the government’s directive, which was intended to ensure maximum participation in the nationwide sanitation exercise.

The arrests formed part of enforcement measures to ensure compliance with the clean-up exercise being conducted across seven flood-affected regions following recent devastating floods.

According to arrangements announced by the Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, shops, markets, commercial establishments, corporate institutions and other non-essential businesses in the affected areas were required to remain closed from 6:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. on Friday, July 10, and Saturday, July 11.

The National Clean-up Exercise is aimed at clearing flood debris, desilting drainage channels and improving sanitation in communities impacted by the floods.