By Bernice Bessey
The inability of the government and city authorities to effectively manage waste system in the country to reduce, recycle refuse has led to uncontrollable cries from residents and business operators close to dumping sites like that at Pantang in the Madina Municipality.
According to the Chairman of the residents association, Elvis Akuamoah, Abokobi-Pantang comprises of the Pantang Hospital, South Abladjei, Parakuo Estates, Liberty Avenue, Anointed Area, East Pantang, E.P. Down (Agbogba) and New City (Abokobi), among others.
He noted that the areas were all zoned as residential areas, and it was, therefore, not right for the city authorities to demarcate a portion of the area as refuse dump.
At a press briefing recently, the Chairman noted the dumping site was having negative health implications on them, especially children, patients and health workers at the Pantang Hospital, since it close to these places.
“When the dumping started, we raised serious concerns about the appropriateness of siting a refuse dump within a residential area. We did that knowing very well that such a practice would have serious implications (both health and security wise) on residents. We also recognised the violation of our Economic and Social (ECOSOC) rights, as guaranteed under the 1992 Constitution,” he stated.
Mr. Akuamoah added that the smoke from the burning of the rubbish often engulfed the entire area and spreads from Abokobi to Ayikuma and Oyibi.
“With some little wind, the stench also spreads as far as it can go. The health complications suffered by we, the residents, resulting from this continuous exposure to the smoke, flies and bad odour, have increased quite substantially, and yet this situation is completely avoidable.”
As the areas mentioned are known to be facing severe water shortage problems, many of the residents have dug boreholes to enable them have access to potable water, but seepage from the refuse dump has been contaminating the water bodies, he said.
He stated that the refuse dump generates all kinds of ailments like cholera, asthma and other airborne diseases, saying, “The continuous burning during the day and at night is carcinogenic in the long term. Therefore, residents are being exposed to cancer, in spite of their protests.”
With this environmental challenge, he noted, the assembly authorities were also creating markets close to the refuse dump, adding, “The situation constitutes a brazen abuse of our economic and social rights as Ghanaians, and an insult to our dignity.”
He called on the Ga East District Assembly, the Ghana Health Service, Town and Country Planning Department and the Environmental Protection Agency to intervene, starting from the site, which should be cleared, and the ecology of the areas affected, restored, as a matter of urgency.
The Chairman appealed for streetlights to be provided, and all bushes cleared, as a matter of priority, sanitise the areas affected, and enhance security for the residents.
“Once the place has been properly restored, we request that recreational facilities and a market complex should be constructed there for the benefit of all the surrounding communities,” Mr. Akuamoah charged.