On Thursday, August 20th, 2026, Zoomlion Company Limited commenced an eight-day disinfection and disinfestation exercise across 22 Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies (MMDAs) within the Central Region. This initiative, orchestrated in collaboration with the Central Regional Coordinating Council and District Assemblies, represents a crucial response to the nationwide floods that significantly impacted numerous communities and public facilities. The flooding, characterized by increased environmental contamination and the proliferation of disease vectors, heightened the risk of outbreaks of water- and vector-borne illnesses, necessitating immediate action.
The exercise, a cornerstone of an agreement between Zoomlion and the government to provide periodic large-scale disinfection and pest control services, was initiated in Cape Coast, Kwamena Walker Avenue public toilet, at the beginning of the operation. Led by a 10-member spraying gang, comprised of two female operatives, the team commenced the deployment across a diverse range of public spaces including schools, markets, health facilities, and convenience zones identified through rapid risk assessments conducted by the respective Assemblies. The rapid assessment process, a key element of the response, allowed for targeted interventions, minimizing the spread of potential outbreaks.
The operation began in Cape Coast, Kwamena Walker Avenue, at 9:00 AM on August 20th, 2026, and subsequently expanded to Komenda-Edina-Eguafo-Abrem Municipality (KEEA) and the Abura-Asebu-Kwamankese District (AAK) areas. The team utilized a spray-to-treat method, deploying a 10-meter radius of disinfectant solution across refuse container sites, dump sites, school libraries, and other public spaces. The initial deployment focused on areas directly impacted by the flooding, ensuring rapid removal of contaminants and facilitating the breakdown of transmission chains for pathogens that thrive after prolonged exposure to water and contaminated environments.
The exercise was overseen by Mr Noah Addo Opey, Central Regional Manager of Zoomlion Company Limited, who emphasized the significant health rationale and benefits of the intervention. He highlighted that disinfecting toilets, school libraries, market stalls, and refuse sites substantially reduced exposure to bacteria, viruses, and vectors, lowered the likelihood of diarrhoeal and respiratory infections, and significantly limited the spread of vector-borne diseases such as malaria and cholera. Mr. Opey stressed that this exercise represents a critical step in restoring public health and preventing further disease outbreaks in flood-affected communities.
To underscore the importance of this initiative, Mr. Addo Opey reassured the public that disinfection efforts will continue throughout the eight-day operation, urging all to maintain environmental cleanliness, clear stagnant water, properly dispose of refuse, and keep public conveniences clean. He reiterated Zoomlion’s commitment to sanitation and public-health interventions, calling on community members, traditional leaders, and local authorities to actively participate and cooperate with the teams to ensure the exercise’s success. Mr. William Goku, Regional Environmental Officer, also expressed his unwavering support for the exercise, emphasizing its critical role in preventing post-flood disease outbreaks and reinforcing the government’s commitment to public safety.
Furthermore, representing the Central Regional Minister, Mr. Goku, and Regional Environmental Officer, Mr. Arthur, commended the timeliness of the exercise, noting that many homes and public spaces in their areas were directly affected by the flooding, and that the spraying and cleanup efforts would provide temporary relief while longer-term recovery plans were implemented. Mr. Arthur urged residents to follow Assembly sanitary directives and support Zoomlion’s teams in completing the eight-day operation. Mr. James Arthur, representing the Assemblyman for Pedu, added that the exercise was a timely response to the flooding, and that the spraying and cleanup would provide immediate relief while long-term recovery efforts would be underway.
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Source: Adom Online
